A thermophilic fungal strain producing polygalacturonase was isolated after primary screening of 40 different isolates. The fungus was identified as Rhizomucor pusilis by Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC), Chandigarh, India. An extracellular polygalacturonase (PGase) from R. pusilis was purified to homogeneity by two chromatographic steps using Sephadex G-200 and Sephacryl S-100. The purified enzyme was a monomer with a molecular weight of 32？kDa. The PGase was optimally active at 55°C and at pH 5.0. It was stable up to 50°C for 120？min of incubation and pH condition between 4.0 and 5.0. The stability of PGase decreases rapidly above 60°C and above pH 5.0. The apparent and values were 0.22？mg/mL and 4.34？U/mL, respectively. It was the first time that a polygalacturonase enzyme was purified in this species. It would be worthwhile to exploit this strain for polygalacturonase production. Polygalacturonase from this strain can be recommended for the commercial production because of its constitutive and less catabolically repressive nature, thermostability, wide range of pH, and lower properties. However, scale-up studies are needed for the better output for commercial production. 1. Introduction Pectin substances constitute a complex linear backbone comprised of α-1, 4-linked d-galacturonic acid residues which may be methylated and substituted with l-rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, and xylose [1–3]. Because of the large variety of pectins in plant material, they endowed with many pectinolytic enzyme systems which can degrade them [4]. The hydrolysis of pectin backbone is obtained by the synergistic action of several enzymes, including pectin methylesterase (EC. 3.1.11.1), endopolygalacturonase (EC. 3.2.1.15), exopolygalacturonase (EC. 3.2.1.67), pectate lyase (EC. 4.2.2.2), exo-pectate lyase (EC. 4.2.2.9), and endopectin lyase (4.2.2.10) [5, 6]. Pectinolytic enzymes are of prime importance for plants as they help in cell-wall extension and softening of some plant tissues during maturation and storage [7, 8]. They also aid in maintaining ecological balance by causing decomposition and recycling of waste plant materials. Plant pathogenicity and spoilage of fruits and vegetables by rotting are some other major manifestations of pectinolytic enzymes [9, 10]. They have been used in many industrial and biotechnological processes, such as textile and plant fiber processing, coffee and tea fermentation, oil extraction, treatment of industrial wastewater containing pertinacious material, purification of plant viruses, and paper making [11]. Commercial enzyme
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