• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2008

A novel agar-degrading bacterium SL-12 was isolated from seashore of Kijang at Busan, Korea, and cultured in marine broth 2216 media. Isolated bacterium SL-12 was identified as Glaciecola genus by 16S rDNA sequencing with 98% identity. The optimum pH of the enzyme activity was 7.0 and the optimum temperature for the reaction was $30^{\circ}C$. The enzyme hydrolyzed neoagarohexaose to yield neoagarobiose as the main product, indicating that the enzyme is ${\beta}$-agarase. Thus, isolated bacterium and the enzyme would be useful for the industrial production of neoagarobiose.