Large-scale production and purification of κ-carrageenase from Pseudomonas carrageenovora for applications in seaweed biotechnology

Cultures of Pseudomonas carrageenovora were grown successfully in a stirred-tank fermentor system suitable for scaled-up conditions. Improved production of the enzyme κ-carrageenase was obtained by starting bacterial growth on a cheap carbon source (lactose) and adding small amounts of carrageenan (0.15%) to initiate enzyme production. This extracellular enzyme was found to be stable both during fermentation and the following purification steps. For large-scale purification, ultrafiltration (membrane/hollow fiber) followed directly by ion exchange chromatography on the cation exchanger system S-Sepharose FF was found most convenient.