Secretion of pectic isoenzymes by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Abstract Cultures of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum grown on different pectin-related polysaccharides (citrus pectin, apple pectin, sodium polygalacturonate), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) or glucose as the only carbon source were examined daily for polygalacturonase and pectinase activities. Electrophoretic forms of polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase activities were revealed using analytical IEF and sodium polygalacturonate and citrus pectin as substrates in overlay gels. A sequence in the production of pectic enzymes and isoenzyme synthesis was found in pectic-polymer cultures corresponding to the induction of several isoenzymes. Enzyme activities in glucose media were associated with three polygalacturonase and two pectinmethylesterase isoforms which were produced constitutively. Sodium-dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting with polyclonal antibodies against an exo-polymethylgalacturonase and an exo-polygalacturonase revealed that these exo-enzymes were secreted from the beginning of cultivation in the different culture media showing characteristics of constitutive enzymes.