cDNA cloning of an alginate lyase from a marine gastropod Aplysia kurodai and assessment of catalytically important residues of this enzyme

► The cDNA encoding an alginate lyase, named AkAly30, was cloned from Aplysia kurodai. ► The deduced amino-acid sequence revealed that AkAly30 belongs to PL-14 family. ► Catalytic residues of AkAly30 were determined by site-directed mutagenesis. ► These residues coincide with those in the active site of Chlorella virus vAL-1.