Expression of multiple complex polysaccharide-degrading enzyme systems by marine bacterium strain 2-40

Saprophytic marine bacterium strain 2-40 (2-40) can degrade numerous comple x polysaccharides (CP) including agar, alginic acid, carrageenan, carboxyme thylcellulose, chitin, beta-glucan, laminarin, pectin, pullulan, starch, an d xylan. The growth of 2-40 was assessed in minimal media containing one of 16 CP or simple carbohydrates, with the result that all supported growth, Each of the carbohydrase systems was elicited at highest levels by the homo logous substrate. Each, excluding amylase, was repressed when 2-40 was cult ured in glucose minimal synthetic media. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate all eviated the repression. Agarose as sole carbon source supported the synthes is of the most heterologous complex carbohydrase systems, although, general ly, at a lower level of activity than the homologous CP.