Proteins of brown seaweeds as inhibitors of endo-1-->3-beta-D-glucanases of marine invertebrates.

It has been found that aqueous-ethanol extracts of brown seaweeds contain substances inhibiting endo-1-->3-beta-D-glucanases, the digestive enzymes of marine mollusks. The inhibitors were detected in 14 of 21 brown seaweeds investigated. An irreversible protein inhibitor possessing high specificity toward endo-1-->3-beta-D-glucanases of marine mollusks was isolated from the brown seaweed Laminaria cichorioides.