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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
15:53
Isolation and Biophysical Study of Fruit Cuticles
Published on: March 30, 2012
An Apparent Cellulase Complex in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) Fruit
1Division of Plant Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506.
Plant Physiology
|May 1, 1974
Summary
Tomato fruit contains a complex of cellulase enzymes that can break down insoluble cellulose. These enzymes, including beta-glucosidase and glucanase, degrade cellulose into smaller sugars like glucose.
Area of Science:
- Plant biochemistry
- Enzymology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Cellulose degradation is crucial in plant cell wall metabolism.
- Understanding fruit ripening involves studying associated enzyme activities.
- Tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) is a model for fruit ripening studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize cellulase enzyme fractions from ripening tomato fruit.
- To determine the pH optima and substrate specificities of these enzymes.
- To compare the tomato cellulase complex with those found in microbial systems.
Main Methods:
- Ammonium sulfate fractionation was used to separate enzyme fractions from tomato fruit.
- Enzyme activity assays were performed to determine pH optima and substrate specificities.
- Characterization of enzyme types, including beta-glucosidase, exo-beta-1,4-glucanase, and endocellulases.
Main Results:
- Four distinct enzyme fractions were isolated, identified as beta-glucosidase, exo-beta-1,4-glucanase, and two endocellulases.
- Both endocellulase fractions demonstrated activity against insoluble cellulose.
- The combined enzymes effectively degraded insoluble cellulose into cellodextrins and glucose.
Conclusions:
- Ripening tomato fruit possesses a complex cellulase system.
- This system is comparable to cellulolytic enzyme complexes found in bacteria and fungi.
- These findings contribute to understanding cellulose metabolism in fruit ripening.
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