가정에서 제조된 된장을 산성조건에서 계대 배양한 후 균체외 mannanase 를 생산하는 Bacillus sp. YB-1401를 분리하였다. 분리균의 당이용능을 비롯한 생화학적 특성은 Brevibacillus laterosporus와 유사도(61.1%)가 가장 높은 반면에 16S rRNA 유전자의 염기서열은 B. amyloliquefaciens와 유사도가 가장 높았다. 분리균 YB-1401의 mannanase 생산성은 mannans에 의해 급격하게 증가하였으며, 특히 곤약(4%)이 첨가된 배지에서 약 265 U/ml로 최대 생산성을 보였다. 분리균의 mannanase는 $55^{circ}C$와 pH 5.5 반응조건에서 최대활성을 보였으며 pH 3.5-11.0의 범위에서 1시간 방치하였을 때 실활이 거의 일어나지 않았다. 또한 LBG와 guar gum 및 mannooligosaccharides를 mannanase로 분해하였을 때 주된 반응산물로 mannobiose와 mannotriose가 생성되었으며 mannose도 소량 생성되었다.
A Bacillus strain capable of hydrolyzing locust bean gum was isolated as a producer of extracellular mannanase by way of an enrichment culture in an acidic medium from homemade soybean pastes. The isolate YB-1401 showed a biochemical identity of 61.1% with Brevibacillus laterosporus, while the nucleotide sequence of its 16S rDNA had the highest similarity with that of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The mannanase productivity of the Bacillus sp. YB-1401 was drastically increased by mannans. Particularly, maximum mannanase productivity was reached at approximately 265 U/ml in LB medium supplemented with konjac glucomannan (4.0%). The mannanase was the most active at $55^{circ}C$ and pH 5.5. Mannanase activity was completely maintained after pre-incubation at pH 3.5 to 11.0 for 1 h. The predominant products resulting from the mannanase hydrolysis were mannobiose and mannotriose for LBG, guar gum or mannooligosaccharides. A small amount of mannose was also detected in the hydrolyzates.
