• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2010

A gene encoding the mannanase of Bacillus licheniformis WL-12, which had been isolated from Korean soybean paste, was cloned into Escherichia coli and nucleotide sequence of the mannanase gene was subsequently determined. The mannanase gene consisted of 1,080 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 360 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence was identical to that of putative mannanase from B. liceniformis DSM13 belonging to GH family 26. The mannanase was partially purified from cell-free extract of the recombinant Escherichia coli carrying a WL-12 mannanase gene by ammonium sulfate fractionation and DEAE-Sepharose column chromatography. Optimal conditions for the partially purified enzyme occurred at pH 6.0 and $65^{\circ}C$. The enzyme showed higher activity on locust bean gum (LBG) galactomannan and konjac glucomannan than on guar gum galactomannan. The predominant products resulting from the mannanase hydrolysis were mannose, mannobiose and mannotriose for LBG or mannooligosaccharides. The enzyme could hydrolyze mannooligosaccharides larger than mannobiose.