Thermal analysis and physiological behavior of cellulose/pectin complex from Canna edulis Ker by-product

Water-soluble extract (WSE), chelated-soluble extract (CSE) and acid-soluble extract (ASE) were obtained from Canna edulis Ker by-product, and their thermal characteristics and physiological behavior were studied. Thermal properties of WSE and ASE demonstrated the exiting of cellulose, as main constituents in the extracts. Different from those of WSE and ASE, the thermal characteristics of CSE demonstrated that it was chiefly composed of cellulose and pectin. The three extracts inhibited both gastric pepsin and lipase enzymatic activities to some extent, and tryptic digestion of β-lactoglobulin as well as lipase hydrolysis of tributyrin in vitro. Therefore, the three extracts could be used as additives in the food industry, in view of safety of C. edulis by-product confirmed by animal experiment.     

Purification and characterization of two isozymes of polygalacturonase from Botrytis cinerea. Effect of calcium ions on polygalacturonase activity

The phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea produces a set of polygalacturonases (PGs) which are involved in the enzymatic degradation of pectin during plant tissue infection. Two polygalacturonases secreted by B. cinerea in seven-day-old liquid culture were purified to apparent homogeneity by chromatography. PG I was an exopolygalacturonase of molecular weight 65 kDa and pI 8.0 and PG II was an endopolygalacturonase of 52 kDa and pI 7.8. Enzymatic activity of PG I and PG II was partially inhibited by 1 mM CaCl₂, probably by calcium chelation of polygalacturonic acid, the substrate of the enzyme.