alpha -Agarase having the following physicochemical properties: (1) function: hydrolyzing an alpha -1,3 bond between 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose and D-galactose; (2) substrate specificity: acting on agarose and agarohexaose and higher agarooligosaccharides but not on agarotetraose; (3) optimum temperature: showing its enzymatic activity at 55 DEG C or below; and (4) heat stability: sustaining 20% or more of the activity after being treated at 48 DEG C for 30 seconds.
