Enzymatic hydrolysis of agar: purification and characterization of β-neoagarotetraose hydrolase from Pseudomonas atlantica

Agarose is degraded by a beta-agarase from Pseudomonas atlantica to neoagarooligosaccharides of degree of polymerization (DP), 4, 6, 8, and 10. A beta-neoagarotetraose hydrolase cleaves the central beta-linkage in neoagarotetraose and the beta-linkage near the nonreducing end in neoagarohexaose and -octaose to yield neoagarobiose. The beta-neoagarotetraose hydrolase was localized on or outside the cytoplasmic membrane, in the cell wall region. The enzyme was activated by NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MnCl2, and MgSO4, has a Km of 3.4 X 10(-3) M for neoagarotetraose, was free from beta-agarase and alpha-neoagarobiose hydrolase activity, and showed no transglycosidic activity.