An extracellular agarase from a Cytophaga species.

1. An extracellular enzyme has been isolated from cultures of the bacterium growing on agar or porphyran. 2. Partial purification of the enzyme has been achieved by precipitation with ammonium sulphate followed by gel filtration on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. 3. The optimum conditions for the enzyme acting on porphyran are pH7.2 and a temperature of 40-41 degrees . 4. The enzyme has an endoaction, producing a rapid decrease in viscosity of agar or porphyran solutions with little development of reducing power. 5. From the action of the enzyme on various polysaccharides, it is concluded that the enzyme is specific for the agarose structure.