Alginate lyase from Streptomyces violaceoruber was purified by DEAE sephacel chromatography and SP sepharose chromatography. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 14.6 units/mg protein, representing a 40.6-fold purification of the crude extract. The final preparation thus obtained showed a single band on Tricine-SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis whose molecular weight was determined to be 23.3 kDa. The polyMG block of sodium alginate was hydrolyzed by the purified alginate lyase and then separated by activated carbon column chromatography and bio gel P-2 gel filtration. The main hydrolysates were composed of hetero type M/G-oligosaccharides with the degrees of polymerization (D.P.) being 6 and 8. To investigate the effects of hetero type M/Goligosaccharides from the sodium alginate on the growth of some intestinal bacteria, cells were cultivated individually on the modified-MRS medium containing D.P. 6 and 8 M/G-oligosaccharides. B. longumgrew 4.25-fold and 6.44-fold more effectively by the treatment of D.P. 6 and 8 M/G-oligosaccharides compared with those of standard MRS medium. In addition, B. bifidumgrew 3.3-fold and 5.4-fold more effectively by the treatment of D.P. 6 and 8 M/G-oligosaccharides. In conclusion, D.P. 8 was more effective than D.P. 6 hetero M/G-oligosaccharides as regards the growth of Bifidobacteriumspp. and Lactobacillus spp

Alginate lyase from Streptomyces violaceoruber was purified by DEAE sephacel chromatography and SP sepharose chromatography. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 14.6 units/mg protein, representing a 40.6-fold purification of the crude extract. The final preparation thus obtained showed a single band on Tricine-SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis whose molecular weight was determined to be 23.3 kDa. The polyMG block of sodium alginate was hydrolyzed by the purified alginate lyase and then separated by activated carbon column chromatography and bio gel P-2 gel filtration. The main hydrolysates were composed of hetero type M/G-oligosaccharides with the degrees of polymerization (D.P.) being 6 and 8. To investigate the effects of hetero type M/Goligosaccharides from the sodium alginate on the growth of some intestinal bacteria, cells were cultivated individually on the modified-MRS medium containing D.P. 6 and 8 M/G-oligosaccharides. B. longumgrew 4.25-fold and 6.44-fold more effectively by the treatment of D.P. 6 and 8 M/G-oligosaccharides compared with those of standard MRS medium. In addition, B. bifidumgrew 3.3-fold and 5.4-fold more effectively by the treatment of D.P. 6 and 8 M/G-oligosaccharides. In conclusion, D.P. 8 was more effective than D.P. 6 hetero M/G-oligosaccharides as regards the growth of Bifidobacteriumspp. and Lactobacillus spp. Key words: hetero M/G-oligosaccharides, Streptomyces violaceoruber