Polygalacturonase
| Endo-polygalacturonase | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Computer generated image of Polygalacturonase as found in Aspergillus aculeatus (1IA5) at pH 8.5 | |||||||||
| Identifiers | |||||||||
| EC no. | 3.2.1.15 | ||||||||
| CAS no. | 9032-75-1 | ||||||||
| Databases | |||||||||
| IntEnz | IntEnz view | ||||||||
| BRENDA | BRENDA entry | ||||||||
| ExPASy | NiceZyme view | ||||||||
| KEGG | KEGG entry | ||||||||
| MetaCyc | metabolic pathway | ||||||||
| PRIAM | profile | ||||||||
| PDB structures | RCSB PDB PDBe PDBsum | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Endo-polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15, pectin depolymerase, pectolase, pectin hydrolase, and poly-α-1,4-galacturonide glycanohydrolase; systematic name (1→4)-α-D-galacturonan glycanohydrolase (endo-cleaving)) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes the α-1,4 glycosidic bonds between galacturonic acid residues:
- (1,4-α-D-galacturonosyl)n+m + H2O = (1,4-α-D-galacturonosyl)n + (1,4-α-D-galacturonosyl)m
Polygalacturonan, whose major component is galacturonic acid, is a significant carbohydrate component of the pectin network that comprises plant cell walls. Therefore, the activity of the endogenous plant PGs works to soften and sweeten fruit during the ripening process. Similarly, phytopathogens use PGs as a means to weaken the pectin network, so that digestive enzymes can be excreted into the plant host to acquire nutrients.