Purification and properties of beta-mannanases I and II from the germinated seeds of Trifolium repens. Mode of galactomannan degradation in vitro.

Two beta-mannanases (beta-mannosidases, EC 3.2.1.25) purified from the germinated seeds of Trifolium repens by a procedure that included chromatography on hydroxyapatite, gel filtration on acrylamide/agarose (Ultragel 5/4) and preparative polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis. The final purification step completely resolved two beta-mannanases with distinct specificities, which were termed beta-mannanase I and beta-mannanase II. beta-Mannanase I was purified 1400-fold and beta-mannanase II 1000-fold. The purified enzymes showed a single protein band when examined by polyacrylamide-gel disc electrophoresis. beta-Mannanase I, apparent mol.wt. 43 000, accounted for 49% of the total activity recovered from the final step of purification. beta-Mannanase II, apparent mol.wt. 38 000, accounted for the remaining 51% of activity. Molecular-weight determinations were by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and by the electrophoretic method of Hendrick & Smith [(1968) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 126, 155-164]. The substrate specificities of both enzymes were examined with the galactomannans of T. repens and of Medicago sativa, as well as with manno-oligosaccharides. The pH optimum was between pH 5.1 and 5.6 for both enzymes.