Production of extracellular pectinase enzymes by a mutant (Pol6) of Penicillium occitanis

Penicillium occitanis strain Pol6, a mutant developed for hyperproduction of cellulase and pectinase enzymes was used for the study of extracellular pectinase production when pectins from different sources (apple and citrus) and with varying degree of esterification (DE) were used as inducers. Highly esterified citrus pectins were found to be suitable substrates for polygalacturonase, pectinase and pectin methyl esterase production, while low esterified citrus pectin favoured pectin lyase (PL) production. Apple pectins induced other hydrolytic enzymes (e.g., β-1,3-glucanase, β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase), in addition to pectolytic enzymes. Moreover, the combination of high and low esterified citrus pectins induced the production of a complete pectinase complex. The extent of degradation of the substrate and the affinity for PL decreased with decreasing DE irrespective of the source. There was no evidence of PL activity in this strain. No significant effect of cations (Ca++, Mn++, Na+) on PL activity was observed. However, EDTA (100 mm) inhibited 50% of the activity, when tested on highly esterified (rapid set citrus) pectin.