Abstract:
Xylanese (E.C.3.2.1.8) activity in Namwa banana pulp was measured at various stages of ripening determined as the texture hardness. The maximum specific activity of crude enzyme was found to be 0.66 unit/mg protein at the texture hardness of 210 cN , xylanase from this stage of ripening was purified. Purification of xylanase was achieved through the procedures of 80% saturated ammonium sulfate , CM-cellulose and Sephadex G-50 column chromatography. The purification was 14.7 fold and the enzyme showed no cellulose activity. The enzyme separated by SDS electrophoresis showed a single band . The molecular mass was 19 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE which is close to the molecular mass of 21 kDa as determined by Sephadex G-50. The optimum pH and temperature for the action of the enzyme were at 5.5 and 45℃ respectively. Xylanase was stable at temperature 30-45 ℃. The enzyme reactions followed Michaselis-menten kinetics. The Lineweaver ̶ Burk plot showed Km values of 1.28 mg ml⁻¹ and 0.5 mg ml⁻¹ for the enzymatic hydrolysis of oat spelts xylan and birchwood xylan respectively. At 10 mM of the metal ion , Hg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ completely inhibited the enzyme activity. Cu²⁺ , Mg²⁺ , Sn²⁺ , Fe²⁺ and Ca²⁺ reduced the activity to 59.52 , 33.58 , 22.46 , 5.56 and 2.60 % respectively. The chemical modifying agents , N bromosuccinimide (1.0 mM ) and diethyl pyrocarbonate (1.0 mM ) could reduce the xylabase activity to 96.4 and 82.0 % respectively. The results indicated that tryptophan and histidine residues may play an important role in the catalytical processes of the enzyme reaction.