Purification and characterization of an endo-polygalacturonase (PG1) from a Zimbabwean species of Armillaria

摘要

The purification and characterization of a major endo-polygalacturonase (PG1), produced both in vivo in inoculated potato tubers and in vitro on crude cell walls of Corylus avellana by an isolate of a Zimbabwean species of Armillaria (group III), are described. PG1 was revealed to be an endo-enzyme releasing a mixture of oligosaccharides with tetra-, tri- and digalacturonic acids as the major end-products. The characteristics of the enzyme were generally consistent with those of many other fungal polygalacturonases, and it macerated and caused cell death in cucumber tissue. The presence of large amounts of PG1 in inoculated potato tubers and its production in vitro by almost all of the African Armillaria isolates studied suggested a potential rolefor the enzyme in the phytopathogenicity of Armillaria..