Fruit softening: evidence for pectate lyase action in vivo in date (Phoenix dactylifera) and rosaceous fruit cell walls.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The programmed softening occurring during fruit development requires scission of cell wall polysaccharides, especially pectin. Proposed mechanisms include the action of wall enzymes or hydroxyl radicals. Enzyme activities found in fruit extracts include pectate lyase (PL) and endo-polygalacturonase (EPG), which, in vitro, cleave de-esterified homogalacturonan in mid-chain by β-elimination and hydrolysis, respectively. However, the important biological question of whether PL exhibits action in vivo had not been tested.

Methods

We developed a method for specifically and sensitively detecting in-vivo PL products, based on Driselase digestion of cell wall polysaccharides and detection of the characteristic unsaturated product of PL action.

Key results

SUBMITTER: Al Hinai TZS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8422893 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature