5'-Phosphodiesterase (5'-PDE) from germinated barley for hydrolysis of RNA to produce flavour nucleotides.

5'-Phosphodiesterase (5'-PDE) is an enzyme that hydrolyses RNA to a mixture of ribonucleotides, from which the flavour enhancers, 5'-guanosine monophosphate (5'-GMP) and 5'-inosine monophosphate (5'-IMP) can be isolated. In the present work, 5'-PDE was extracted and partially purified from germinated barley seeds. 5'-PDE activity was monitored using bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate as the substrate. The enzyme acts on the substrate and releases the p-nitrophenol, which is measured at 420 nm. Ultrafiltration using a polysulfone membrane having molecular weight cut off (MWCO) of 20 kDa gave 12-fold concentration. Further purification using ammonium sulphate gave 18-fold concentration. Heat shock for 15 min at 60 degrees C after the ultrafiltration enhanced the concentration of 5'-PDE 9.10 fold, while a similar treatment after ammonium sulphate treatment enhanced it by 17.83-fold. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 5, and was stable at 0 degrees C. This partially purified enzyme could be used for hydrolysis of RNA to produce 5'-GMP and 5' adenosine monophosphate, a precursor of 5'-IMP.