Alginate lyase

Alginate lyase is an enzyme that breaks down alginate, a natural substance found in the cell walls of seaweed. Alginate is often used in food, medicine, and biotechnology because of its thickening and gelling properties. Alginate lyase works by cleaving the chemical bonds in alginate molecules, converting them into smaller components. This process is useful in various applications, such as degrading biofilms formed by bacteria or extracting alginate from seaweed more efficiently. Overall, alginate lyase is a biological tool that helps control or modify alginate-based materials through targeted enzymatic activity.