Studies on the Ship-fouling Alga Enteromorpha II. The Effect of Certain Enzymes on the Adhesion of Zoospores

A method for assessing the adhesion of settled zoospores ofEnteromorpha intestinalis is described. Using this method, the effect of certain enzymes on the attachmentprocess has been studied and the biochemical nature of the secretedadhesive inferred from the results. Although considerable variation in adhesive ability has beenshown to exist between spores from different parent sourcescertain enzymes produce a consistent weakening action on adhesion.Trypsin, pronase, and a-amylase are especially active in thisrespect. The experimental results demonstrate that the -amylaseeffect, although not quite so great as that of the two proteolyticenzymes is, however, genuine. In conjunction with the previous paper it has been shown thatadhesive production is a rapid process, completed within minutesof initial contact and that at this early stage the adhesivematerial is particularly susceptible to proteolytic attack. The results offer the possibility of a biological method forthe control of algal fouling.