Pectinase production by Neurospora crassa: purification and biochemical characterization of extracellular...

The production of pectinase was studied in Neurospora crassa, using the hyperproducer mutant exo-1, which synthesized and secreted five to six times more enzyme than the wild-type. Polygalacturonase, pectin lyase and pectate lyase were induced by pectin, and this induction was glucose-repressible. Polygalacturonase was induced by galactose four times more efficiently than by pectin; in contrast the activity of lyases was not affected by galactose. The inducing effect of galactose on polygalacturonase was not glucose-repressible. Extracellular pectinases were separated by ion exchange chromatography. Pectate and pectin lyases eluted into three main fractions containing both activities; polygalacturonase eluted as a single, symmetrical peak, apparently free of other protein contaminants, and was purified 56-fold. The purified polygalacturonase was a monomeric glycoprotein (38% carbohydrate content) of apparent molecular mass 36.6-37.0 kDa (Sephadex G-100 and urea-SDS-PAGE, respectively). The enzyme hydrolysed predominantly polypectate. Pectin was also hydrolysed, but at 7% of the rate for polypectate. Km and Vmax for polypectate hydrolysis were 5.0 mg ml-1 and 357 mumol min-1 (mg protein)-1, respectively. Temperature and pH optima were 45 degrees C and 6.0, respectively. The purified polygalacturonase reduced the viscosity of a sodium polypectate solution by 50% with an increase of 7% in reducing sugar groups. The products of hydrolysis at initial reaction times consisted of oligogalacturonates without detectable monomer. Thus, the purified Neurospora crassa enzyme was classified as an endopolygalacturonase [poly(1,4-alpha-D-galacturonide) glycanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.15].