Characteristics of Pectinesterase (PE) in Cucumbers

This study was attempted to investigate the occurrence and the partial characteristics of pectinesterase (PE) in cucumbers. And the involvement of endogenous cucumber PE with the formation of insoluble pectic acid, in the presence of endogenous or added calcium ions, was also studied. The results of this study are as follows: 1) PE activity was detected in whole cucumber homogenate. 2) The optimum pH and temperature of this enzyme were found to be 8.5 and , respectively 3) When PE extract was added to 0.25% pectin solution, pectin gel was formed. The time required for the formation of pectin gel was reduced when the pectin solution was adjusted to the optimum conditions for PE activity(pH 8.5, ) and was added. 4) Cucumber juice which was heated to for 10 minutes fatted to form any insoluble pectate precipitate. The formation of precipitate in cucumber juice was accelerated by preheating to , adjusting to pH 8.5 and addition of . 5) These results can be interpreted that endogenous PE in cucumber juice demethylates pectin, allowing interlinking of pectin molecules via divalent cation and thus forming insoluble Ca-pectate. Therefore additional firming effects of cucumber can be expected to be obtained through activation of PE in conjunction with calcium ions.