Continuous determination of endopolygalacturonase activity by means of rotational viscosimeters.

A continuous viscosimetric method for the determination of endopolygalacturonase activity has been developed from theoretical considerations. The method is based upon the decrease in the specific viscosity of a sodium polygalacturonate solution caused by the action of the enzyme and measured by means of a rotational viscosimeter. The assay has advantages over other viscosimetric methods previously described and over those which rely on the reducing groups assay. The suitability of the newly developed method for measuring the heat resistance of endopolygalacturonase samples has been tested and proved to be satisfactory.