In this study, an actinomycete was isolated from sea mud. The strain K1 was identified as Saccharomonospora sp. by 16S rDNA. The optimal enzyme production temperature, initial pH, time, and concentration of the inducer of this actinomycete strain K1 were 37 °C, pH 8.5, 72 h, and 2% dextran T20 of medium, respectively. Dextranase from strain K1 exhibited maximum activity at 8.5 pH and 50 °C. The molecular weight of the enzyme was <10 kDa. The metal ions Sr2+ and K+ enhanced its activity, whereas Fe3+ and Co2+ had an opposite effect. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography showed that dextran was mainly hydrolyzed to isomaltoheptose and isomaltopentaose. Also, it could effectively remove biofilms of Streptococcus mutans. Furthermore, it could be used to prepare porous sweet potato starch. This is the first time a dextranase-producing actinomycete strain was screened from marine samples.
Keywords: Saccharomonospora sp.; biofilm; characteristics; dextranase; isooligomaltosaccharides; porous starch.