Stimulation of Pectolytic Enzyme Formation of Erwinia aroideae by an Active Factor in Carrot Extracts

Formation of pectinase system in Erwinia aroideae was stimulated to a considerable extent when the cells were incubated in a pectin medium containing carrot extracts. The active factor in the extract was purified about 30 fold by ethanol precipitation, and further purification was achieved by ninhydrin treatment, charcoal adsorption, dialysis and gel filtration with Sephadex G-10. Although crude carrot extract preparation also stimulated protease formation in this organism, no stimulating activity for protease formation was found in the purified factor. Acetate and butyrate which had been shown to stimulate pectinase formation, were found to stimulated protease formation as well. Pectinase formation by this organism was also stimulated by polyamines and inorganic phosphate to a considerable extent.