Extraction and characterization of the pectin methylesterase (PME) of waste agroindustrial of the pineapple pearl

Abstract

The objective was to obtain and characterize pectinmethylesterase (PME) of industrial residue from the Pearl Pineapple. Specific activities, the optimum conditions of pH and temperature, and also the thermal stability partially purified and concentrated PME were determined. The PME specific activity was 6.36 U/mg. The pH optimum of 7.5 PME was extracted, also considering alkaline. During the trial time, the partially purified PME maintained itself stable upon exposure to the temperatures of 25 and 60ºC. It obtained an activity elevation between 40 and 50ºC. In temperatures above 70ºC, there was a substantial reduction in a specific activity. The partially purified PME showed three gel polyacrylamide SDS-PAGE bands of apparent molar mass (MM) of 25.4 and 23.1 kDa and 16.4 kDa. These results demonstrate the feasibility of PME extraction from the Pearl Pineapple's processed residue and its potential for use in manufacturing pulp and fruit juices, since the currently applied enzymes are imported and expensive.