The Polysaccharide Degradation Activity in Digestive Tract of Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus nudus

Abstract

It was found that the supernatants from the digestive tracts of the sea urchins Strongylocentrotus nudus degraded carboxymethyl cellulose, laminaran, fucoidan, microcrystalline cellulose and the crude fiber of Naga-Kombu Laminaria angustata. The degrading activty on sodium alginate could not be detected in the homogenate by measuring an increase of the reducing sugar, but a slight and significant activity was detected by measuring a change of the viscosity.