Glycosidase Activities of the Ascidian. Halocynthia roretzi

Abstract

Activities of various glycosidases in hepatopancreas and digestive tract of the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi, were determined.
Among arylglycosidases, β-galactosidase exhibited the strongest activity. As for poly-saccharidases, the extremely high activity was found with laminaranase followed by amylase(s). Although activities of xylanase, pectinase, and cellulase (CMC hydrolase) were clearly, detected, activities of other polysaccharidases, especially chitinase, alginase, and cellulase (cellulose hydrolase), were very low.
Storage carbohydrates such as laminaran and starch in algae and phytoplankton may be important nutrients for the animal.