Abstract
Gelation of pectin by plant extracts is due to demethylation by pectin methylesterase; in the presence of Caions Ca-pectate gels are formed. Pectin methylesterase is inhibited to some extent by 1,2-dihydroxy-anthraquinone-sulphonic acid-3, 1,4-dihydroxy-anthraquinone-sulphonic acid-2, and 8-hydroxy-quinoline sulphate, but much stronger by m-digallic acid and tannic acid. A trans-eliminative breakdown of pectin can interfere with the action of pectin methylesterase. In host-parasite complexes, the degradation of pectin (either hydrolytically or trans-eliminatively) can be catalyzed by many different enzymes of plant, fungal or bacterial origin. Various substances, occurring naturally in higher plants, can greatly affect >the activity of these enzymes. Therefore, in order to obtain quantitative data on their respective activities in host-parasite systems, thorough purification of all pectolytic enzymes from such systems is indispensable.
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