Cell Wall Metabolism in Ripening Fruit : III. Purification of an Endo-beta-1,4-xylanase that Degrades a Structural Polysaccharide of Pear Fruit Cell Walls

A β-1,4-xylanase has been purified from the mixture of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes found in a commercial preparation from cultures of Trichoderma viride. Purification from the desalted enzyme mixture is accomplished either by preparative isoelectric focusing or in two-column chromatographic steps. The xylanase has maximal activity at pH 5.0 and a molecular weight of approximately 13,000 daltons. The enzyme loses activity when heated to above 45°C. The xylanase degrades xylans from larch and pear cell walls in an apparently endo-fashion.