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Abstract

Pectinases are the pectinolytic enzymes that constitute an important component of the plant cell wall and of wide use with their target as pectins. Pectinases cover three different enzymes: Pectin-esterases (PE) act upon ester bonds in pectin breaking them into simpler forms, Polygalacturonases (PG) target the bonds between the galacturonosyl residues, and Pectate lyases (PL)target the alpha 1,4 glycosidic bond. These enzymes can be biosynthesized with the help of various microbes, including bacteria and fungi, using biological waste as a source of nutrients, carbon, and energy. These are commercially important because of their extensive use in the food and textile industry, clarification of beverages, maceration of plant tissue, treatment of wastewater, pulp liquefaction, textile industry and plant fiber processing, coffee, tea and oil extraction, de-gumming plant fibers, and improvement of chromaticity and stability of red wines. This review mainly aims at the pectinase's, their types, mechanism of action, and the substrates on which they act. It also gives a broad view of the applications of these enzymes in the industrial sector. INTRODUCTION:Pectinases are enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of pectin. Pectin, the constituent of primary cell wall of terrestrial plants, was first isolated and described by Henri Braconnot in 1825. It is a high molecular weight heteropolysaccharide rich in arabinose, galactose, and galacturonic acid with a rhamnogalacturonan backbone. It forms a jelly-like substance in the cell wall and exists as calcium and magnesium pectate. In addition to the plant cell wall, it is also present in fruits in very high concentrations.