A cold-active pectin lyase from the psychrophilic and basidiomycetous yeast Cystofilobasidium capitatum strain PPY-1.

In the present study we purified a cold-active PNL (pectin lyase) from the extracellular fraction of the PPY (pectinolytic and psychrophilic yeast) Cystofilobasidium capitatum strain PPY-1. The purified PNL has a molecular mass of approx. 42 kDa, and its N-terminal amino acid sequence is ATGVTGSAYGFATGTTGGGSATPAY, which exhibits 72% identity with that of PNL F from Aspergillus niger. The purified PNL exhibited high activity at 10 degrees C, although its optimum temperature was 40 degrees C. Moreover, Km and Vmax for pectin as a substrate were found to have values 36.6 mg/ml and 3000 units/mg respectively. These findings may indicate that this enzyme from strain PPY-1 is a cold-active PNL that is able to degrade pectin compounds at low temperature.