Hydrophobic chromatographic purification of ethylene-enhanced chlorophyllase from Citrus unshiu fruits

Abstract

Ethylene-enhanced chlorophyllase from Citrus unshiu fruits was purified to a homogeneous state after solubilization with sodium cholate, using acetone precipitation and hydrophobic chromatography. The enzyme adhered to phenyl Sepharose CL-4B in 3M KCl and was eluted with a linear gradient of Triton X-100 (0–0.5%). Its MW (SDS-PAGE) was 27 000. The enzyme behaved as a protein of MW 110 000 on Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration. The enzyme showed a specific activity of 0.069 μamol chlorophyllide a produced/min/ mg protein. This purification procedure is a rapid method for obtaining pure chlorophyllase.