Pectins from apple pomace

Extractions of apple pectins from apple pomace were performed using an experimental design with 2² factorial. The extractor agent was 5 % (w/v) citric acid and the variables were time (30, 50 and 80 min) and temperature (50, 75 and 100 °C). The best yield (16.8 %) was obtained using higher temperatures (100 °C; 80 min). Monosaccharide composition of the pectic fractions was similar to others already described

Activity of cell wall-associated enzymes in ripening olive fruit

Enzymatically active cell wall isolaled from olive (Olea europaea) fruit was employed Hi investigate some hydrolytic enzymes bound to the cell wall and the changes in these during ripening. Seven glycosidases. β-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) α-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22). β-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23). α-arabinosidase (EC 3.2.1.55), α-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1,24). β-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) and β-N-acetylglucosamidase (EC 3.2.1.30). as well as Cx-cellulase (EC 3.2.1.4) and endo-polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15). were identified in the cell wall preparation, at four stages of ripeness (mature green. changing colour, black and black-ripe). Activities of all these cell wall-associated enzymes fionicallv and covalently linked) were determined either by cell wall incubation with artificial substrate or after extraction from the cell wall with buffers of high salt concentration (Cx-cellulase). and were compared to those of forms solubilized from acetone powders with 500 nM citrate buffer (cytoplasmic and/or apoplastic plus ionically hound to cell wall) In general, the activities of low ionic strength buffer-soluble enzymes were found to be much higher than those of the bound enzymes. The bound enzymes are present in the fruit at the green colour stage, whereas the activities of the soluble enzymes only increased from the changing colour stage onwards. The tenacity of binding of enzymes to the wall was investigated by treating the walls with high salt and measuring residual activity. The nature of the ionic and covalent binding and the changes during ripening were also established for wall-hound glycosidase During ripening there was a marked change in the percentages of covalently- and tonically linked activities of β-glucosidase and β-galaclosidase: al the changing colour stages about 75–80% of the bound active in was present in high ionic strength buffer while al the black-ripe stage it was only 15–20. A possible role for these cell wall degradative enzymes in olive softening is discussed.Peer reviewe

Physicochemical changes in dietary fiber of green beans after repeated microwave treatments

The influence of microwave cooking/reheating on dietary fiber in green beans was investigated. The beans were analyzed after blanching and following repeated microwave treatment. Content and composition of dietary fiber as well as molecular weight distribution and viscosity of indigestible water-soluble polysaccharides (WSP) (Mw >1000) were determined. Total fiber content decreased only after the most severe microwave treatment, primarily due to losses of soluble dietary fiber (pectic polymers). Molecular weight and viscosity decreased considerably after the first microwave treatment. Repeated microwave treatments reduced the molecular weight further, but not the viscosity