Production of fungal polygalacturonase from apple pomace

Abstract

Of five cultures examined, Aspergillus niger NRRL 599 was found to yield the highest activity of polygalacturonase (>25 000 units/kg apple pomace fermented). The enzyme was most active at 40°C and exhibited its optimum activity at pH 4.5. The Km and Vmax values for polygalacturonic acid were 2.1 mg/mL and 0.12 mmol/L galacturonic acid/min, respectively. The molecular weight of the enzyme as estimated by the gel filtration method was 34 kDa. © 1994 Academic Press.