Polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera (PE) are becoming increasingly popular due to its bioactivity
and abundant source. Screening novel microorganisms which could secrete enzymes to degrade PE efficiently
for oligosaccharides production is a promising solution to improve its application. In this study,
a marine bacterium that can produce enzymes to degrade PE specifically was selected. It was identified
as Alteromonas sp. A321, based on the biochemical properties and 16S rDNA gene sequencing. In order
to maximize the activity of degradase for polysaccharides from E. prolifera (DPE), the effects of medium
composition and culture conditions were investigated. The highest DPE production was obtained in the
medium consisting of K2HPO4 0.15%, PE 0.9%, NaNO3 0.4%, NaCl 1.0% and MgSO4 0.05%. The degradase
activity was enhanced from original 0.391 U/ml to 0.744 U/ml. DPE show high efficiency and substrate
specificity to PE with 63.53% of reducing sugar production in the 7 h hydrolysis.
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