SPHINGANASE, A NEW ENDOGLYCANASE THAT CLEAVES SPECIFIC MEMBERS OF THEGELLAN FAMILY OF POLYSACCHARIDES

A sporeforming gram-positive aerobic bacterium was isolated from soil and shown to secrete an endoglycanase that cleaves the tetrasaccharide backbone structure of specific members within tile gellan family of r elated bacterial exopolysaccharides. We refer to these polysaccharides as sphingans. The structures of the sphingans differ by the type and position of side groups that are attached to the backbone. The new enz yme named sphinganase degrades welan, gellan, deacylated gellan, and p orysaccharides S-88, S-7, and S-198. However, the enzyme does not atta ck rhamsan or polysaccharide NW11. Methods for growing the bacteria, i solating the enzyme, and assaying sphinganase activity are presented, and uses for the enzyme are proposed.