Purification, Crystallization, and Properties of an Endo β-1, 3-Glucanase from Rhizopus chinensis R-69

Abstract

An endo β-1, 3-glucanase was purified in crystalline form from a culture filtrate of Rhizopus chinensis R-69. Molecular weight of the enzyme was determined to be 23, 000 by molecular sieve chromatography and the mode of action of the enzyme was suggested to be a less random type of β-1, 3-glucanase. Km and V_max of the enzyme for laminarin are 3.4g/liter and 154 I. U., respectively. The enzyme does not decompose the cell walls of living yeast; it decomposes, however, the preparation of yeast glucan.