Enzymatic Characteristics of an Extracellular Agarase of Cytophaga sp. KY-1 and Molecular Cloning of the Agarase gene

A bacterial strain KY-l isolated from sewage was able to produce an extracellular agarase(agarose 4-glycanohydrolase. EC 3.2.1.81). The strain KY-1 was identified as Cytophaga fermentans subsp. agarovorans based on its morphological and physiological characteristics. The agarase was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by DEAE-Sephadex A-50. Bio-Gel P-100. and CM-Cellulose column chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 24 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The optimum temperature and pH for the enzyme activity were 30^{circ}C and 7.5, respectively. The enzyme activity was significantly inhibited in the presence of 0.1 mM $HgCl_2$. whereas it was elevated 3 times by $MnSO_4$ at 1 mM concentration. The Km value and Vmax were 16.67 mg/ml and 3.77 unit/ml.min. The agarase gene was cloned into Escherichia coli MC1061 using the plasmid vector pBR322. A 1.4 Kb DNA fragment of PstI-digested chromosomal DNA of C. fermentans KY-l was inserted into the PstI site of pBR322. expressed in the E. coli. and up to 60% of the total enzyme was extracellularly secreted. Enzymatic properties of the extracellular agarases produced by both the transformant and the donor were very similar in terms of optimal pH and temperature.