Polygalacturonase from Corticium rolfsii

Abstract

Two assay methods have generally been employed for the estimation of polygalacturonase activity: release of reducing groups from pectic acid and viscosity reduction of pectic acid. The viscometric assay is more sensitive than the reducing group assay, so it is convenient for estimation of the minor activity. It cannot, however, be used for estimation of the activity in acidic conditions such as at pH below 3.0, where pectic acid forms a gel. In these conditions, it is better to use the reducing group assay using acid-soluble pectic acid as a substrate. This chapter describes the preparation and purification procedure of the enzyme. It discusses the properties of polygalacturonase. Although pectolytic enzymes other than polygalacturonases from various origins show some activity in plant tissue maceration, singly or in combination, an enzyme preparation from Clostridium felsineum reveals a strong macerating activity in spite of a lack of activity against purified pectin or pectic acid. This enzyme presumably acts on native pectin where galacturonan combines with other polysaccharides and should be useful for vegetable biomass utilization.