title: Preliminary characterization of a novel β-agarase from Thalassospira profundimonas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to characterize the agarase from a newly isolated agarolytic bacterium Thalassospira profundimaris fst-13007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Agarase-fst was purified to homogeneity which apparent molecular weight was 66.2 kDa. Its activity was optimal at 45 °C and pH 8 and was stable at pH 5-9 or 30-50 °C. Agarase-fst required Mn(2+) for agarase activity and inhibition by Cu(2+), Fe(3+) and EDTA. Tests of hydrolysis pattern and substrate specificity, TLC analysis and mass spectrometry of the hydrolysis products revealed that it is an endo-type β-agarase hydrolyzing agarose into neoagarobiose, neoagarotetraose and neoagarohexaose. Results of MALDI-TOF-TOF/MS indicate that it lack of homology to previously identified proteins and present conserved domain of β-agarase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Agarase-fst from T. profundimaris fst-13007 was confirmed to be a novel endo-type β-agarase.
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian People's Republic of China ; Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork Ireland.
authors.forename: Longtao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork Ireland.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shaoxiao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Baodong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zheng
keywords: Agarase; Characterization; Purification; Thalassospira profundimaris