Production of Hydrolytic Depolymerising Pectinases

Ernesto Favela-Torres*, Tania Volke-Sepúlveda and Gustavo Viniegra-González

Biotechnology Department, Division of Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, AP 55-535, México, DF, Mexico

Article history:
Received January 19, 2006
Accepted March 20, 2006

Key words:
pectinases, polygalacturonases, alkaline pectinases, thermostable pectinases

Summary:
Polygalacturonases (PGases) or hydrolytic depolymerases are enzymes involved in the degradation of pectic substances. They have a wide range of applications in food and textile processing, degumming of plant rough fibres and treatment of pectic wastewaters. Bacteria, yeasts and fungi under both submerged (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) conditions produce these enzymes. Bacteria produce mainly alkaline and thermostable PGases, whilst fungi are the major producers of acidic PGases. In order to obtain high yields of pectinase production, strain improvement and optimization of culture conditions should be considered. This review is an overview of the microorganisms, substrates, and type of culture used for PGase production. It also provides a description about the strategies used to enhance the production of PGases.

*Corresponding author:           favela@xanum.uam.mx
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