![Sample our Engineering & Technology journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5933/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Engineering-Tech.jpg"})
![Publish Open Access Finland]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110396/JournalAd-OA-Agreements.gif"})
![Offer for the Toxicology Open Access!]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110939/OA-Toxicology-F1000.jpg"})
The agarases were purified for the first time an using aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and phosphate salt. The three extracellular, alkaline agarases produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa AG LSL-11 were efficiently extracted into the top PEG-rich layer. The influencing factors on the partition of agarases—molecular weight of the PEG, system pH, system temperature, and NaCl concentration—were investigated. All the factors were found to have a significant effect on the partition of agarases except NaCl. The optimal ATPS parameters for the partitioning and purification of agarases were found to be 12% PEG 600 and 11.9% (w/w) phosphate salt at pH 8.0 and 4°C. All three agarases were concentrated in the top PEG phase with 6.19-fold purity and 71.21% recovery. The ATPS was found to be more convenient and economical than the conventional ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) method for extraction of three agarases and could be significantly employed for the purification of agarases from fermentation broth.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This research work was supported by grants-in-aid from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi (project 100/IFD/5186/2007-2008, dated 6/11/2007), and Basawaraj A. Koti is grateful to the funding agency for a Junior Research Fellowship. Thanks are also due to Gulbarga University, Gulbarga, for use of the laboratory facility.