title: Isolation and properties of a (1,3)-beta-D-glucanase from Ruminococcus flavefaciens.
abstract: A (1,3)-beta-D-glucanase [(1,3)-beta-D-glucan-3-glucanohydrolase] from Ruminococcus flavefaciens grown on milled filter paper was purified 3,700-fold (19% yield) and appeared as a single major protein and activity band upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme did not hydrolyze 1,6-beta linkages (pustulan) or 1,3-beta linkages in glucans with frequent 1,6-beta-linkage branch points (scleroglucan). Curdlan and carboxymethylpachyman were hydrolyzed at 50% the rate of laminarin. The enzyme had a Km of 0.37 mg of laminarin per ml, a pH optimum of 6.8, and a temperature optimum of 55 degrees C and was stable to heating at 40 degrees C for 60 min. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 26 kDa by gel filtration and 25 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was completely inhibited by 1 mM Hg2+, Cu2+, and KMnO4, 75% by 1 mM Ag2+, and Ni2+, and 50% by 1 mM Mn2+ and Fe3+. In a 2-h incubation with laminaridextrins (seven to nine glucose units) or curdlan and excess enzyme, the major products were glucose (30 to 37%), laminaribiose (17 to 23%), laminaritriose (18 to 28%), laminaritetraose (13 to 21%), and small amounts of large laminarioligosaccharides. With laminarihexaose and laminaripentaose, the products were equal quantities of laminaribiose and glucose (30%) and laminaritetraose and laminaritriose (18 to 21%). Laminaribiose or laminaritriose were not hydrolyzed, indicating a requirement for at least four contiguous 1,3-beta-linked glucose units for enzyme activity. The enzyme appeared to have the properties of both an exo- and an endoglucanase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Animal Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Erfle
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Teather
mesh_terms: D043326:Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D010459:Peptococcaceae / Q000201:enzymology*; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; C022825:laminaridextrins; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D043326:Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase