Effect of Temperature and High Pressure on the Activity and Mode of Action of Fungal Pectin Methyl Esterase

摘要

Pectin was de-esterified with purified recombinant Aspergillus aculeatus pectin methyl esterase (PME) during isothermal-isobaric treatments.By measuring the release of methanol as a function of treatment time,the rate of enzymatic pectin conversion was determined.Elevated temperature and pressure were found to stimulate PME activity.The highest rate of PME-catalyzed pectin de-esterification was obtained when combining pressures in the range 200-300 MPa with temperatures in the range 50-55 deg C.The mode of pectin de-esterification was investigated by characterizing the pectin reaction products by enzymatic fingerprinting.No significant effect of increasing pressure (300 MPa) and/or temperature (50 deg C) on the mode of pectin conversion was detected.