[Detection and characterization of a levansucrase and a sucrase in Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola]

Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola, a plant pathogenic pseudomonad, possesses two sucrose-splitting enzymes, a levansucrase and a sucrase. The levansucrase is found both extracellularly and intracellularly, and enzyme synthesis is independent of the carbon source. In addition to levansucrase, cells grown on sucrose contain a sucrase. The two sucrose-splitting enzymes differ in their optimum pH value and optimum temperature as well as in their substrate specificities.