SPHINGANASE, A NEW ENDOGLYCANASE THAT CLEAVES SPECIFIC MEMBERS OF THE GELLAN 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 the gellan family of related 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 enzyme named sphinganase degrades welan, gellan, deacylated gellan, and porysaccharides S-88, S-7, and S-198. However, the enzyme does not attack rhamsan or polysaccharide NW11. Methods for growing the bacteria, isolating the enzyme, and assaying sphinganase activity are presented, and uses for the enzyme are proposed.