An endo-1,5-alpha-L-arabinase [purified from the culture fluid of Bacillus subtilis], which can disintegrate potato tissue

An endo-1,5- alpha -L-arabinase (EC 3.2.1.99) has been highly purified from the culture fluid of Bacillus subtilis IFO 3022 grown on a medium containing beet pulp extract. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 33,000 by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme was active on 1,5-arabinan, and inactive on p-nitrophenyl alpha -L-arabinofuranoside. The optimum pH was 6.0. The enzyme was inhibited by Hg super(2+), but not by L-arabonic- gamma -lactone. The purified enzyme was able to loosen potato tissue.