DETECTION OF PECTINESTERASE IN POLYACRYLAMIDE GELS

A rapid and sensitive method of detecting pectinesterase activity foll owing electrophoresis or isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels i s described. The method uses ruthenium red and requires no addition of substrate when making the gels, thus obviating direct enzyme-substrat e contact during electrophoresis. Because of its versatility, the meth od can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as plant and mi crobial taxonomy, enzyme purification and characterization, or as an a nalytical method in fresh and processed plant technology.