Research on pectin depolymerases in the sixties ‐ a literature review

Abstract

This review deals mainly with the literature which has appeared since the discovery of pectin lyases in 1960. Those papers have been selected which are reports of investigations carried out with purified enzyme preparations and rather well defined substrates. According to their action on high polymer pectic substances, the enzymes are placed in one of six different groups. Mutual relationships of some of the groups are discussed. It is emphasized that the choice of substrates and reaction conditions, as well as that of methods of analysis, to a large extent influence the values found for a number of enzyme properties. Trends for future research are outlined.