Alginase in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Viscosimetric evidence of alginase activity is given for the intestine and the intestinal contents of a sea urchin. The alginase activity of the gut wall and that of the contents of the gut differ in pH optima; this suggests that there may be two sources of alginase. The enzyme (or enzymes) depolymerizes algin.