PRODUCTION OF FUNGAL POLYGALACTURONASE FROM APPLE POMACE

Of five cultures examined, Aspergillus niger NRRL 599 was found to yie ld the highest activity of Polygalacturonase (>25 000 units/kg apple p omace fermented). The enzyme was most active at 40-degrees-C and exhib ited its optimum activity at pH 4.5. The K(m) and V(max) values for po lygalacturonic acid were 2.1 mg/mL and 0.12 mmol/L galacturonic acid/m in, respectively. The molecular weight of the enzyme as estimated by t he gel filtration method was 34 kDa.