MICROBIAL PECTINASES: A REVIEW ON MOLECULAR AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

Pectinases are upcoming enzymes in the biotechnological sector. This large group of enzymes involves in break down of pectic polysaccharides, the major component of middle lamella in plant cell wall. The pectin degrading enzymes are categorized according to their mode of action and release of degradative products. Various filamentous fungi, yeast, and bacteria are the common sources of microbial pectinases. Solid state fermentation is more preferable for extracellular microbial pectinases production over the submerged fermentation. A group of genes regulates the expression of pectinolytic enzymes. Mostly, all the enzymes share a common parallel beta helix topology which consists of a single domain of parallel beta-strands folded into a large right-handed cylinder. These enzymes are eco-friendly tools for industrial applications and being used in various sectors like wine, food, paper industry, waste paper recycling, fruit juice preparation, processing of tea-coffee, animal feed preparation.