Stimulation of Pectolytic Enzyme Formation of Erwinia aroideae by an Active Factor in Carrot Extracts

Part I. Some Properties of the Factor

Abstract

Formation of pectolytic enzyme system in Erwinia aroideae was stimulated to a remarkable extent when the cells were incubated in a pectin medium containing carrot extracts. The active principle in the carrot extract preparation was resistant to acid hydrolysis, digestion by Pronase, RNase, DNase or α-amylase, and to ninhydrin and charcoal treatments. The factor lost, however, its stimulating activity upon alkaline hydrolysis or periodate oxidation. The factor was partially purified by the combination of gel filtration with Sephadex G-10 and ninhydrin and charcoal treatments. The molecular weight of the partially purified factor was presumed to be around 400 by the gel filtration.