Review on bacterial production of alkaline pectinase with special emphasis on Bacillus species

Abstract

Pectinases consist of an exclusive group of enzymes which catalyze the degradation of pectic polymers present in the plant cell walls. Today, pectinases are the upcoming industrially important enzyme having major industrial importance and they hold a leading position among the commercially produced industrial enzymes. Microorganisms including yeast, bacteria, actinomycetes and a large number of fi lamentous fungi are commonly recognized as the best natural sources for the production of pectinase enzyme. The chief source of acidic pectinases is fungi but alkaline pectinases are produced from alkalophilic bacteria, primarily Bacillus spp. The alkaline pectinase has developed as important commercial enzymes with far-fl ung applications mainly in textile processing, bio-scouring of cotton fi bers, degumming and retting of fi ber crops, pretreatment of pectic wastewater etc. This review discusses the microbial production of pectinases with special emphasis on bacterial pectinase from Bacillus spp.