Expression, purification and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the catalytic module of a beta-agarase from the flavobacterium Zobellia galactanivorans

Marine bacteria secrete specific glycoside hydrolases such as agarases to access polysaccharides from algal cell walls as a carbon and energy source. In an attempt to identify agarases with variable degradation patterns, a novel family GH16 beta-agarase from the marine bacterium Zobellia galactanivorans was expressed, purified and crystallized. The purified enzyme crystallized in two distinct forms that were grown by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using polyethylene glycol as a precipitant. Hexagonal crystals belonging to space group P3(1)21 diffracted to 2.2 A resolution, whereas orthorhombic crystals belonging to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) diffracted to 1.5 A resolution.