A kappa-carrageenase was isolated from the cell-free medium of cultured Pseudomonas carrageenovora. From dodecylsulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a single protein (identified as the kappa-carrageenase) was detected in the medium. Activity against nominal carrageenan types and inspection of the products indicate the enzyme to be a kappa-carrageenase. Purification is described here by ammonium sulphate precipitation and subsequent CM-Sepharose CL-6B ion-exchange chromatography. Molecular weight was estimated as 35,000 by dodecylsulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Products of degradation were analysed by gel filtration, spectrophotometric assays and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. These results are consistent with the product of limit digest being neocarrabiose 4-O-sulphate.
