Large-scale single step partial purification of potato pectin methylesterase that enables the use in major food applications.

Pectin methylesterase was extracted from potato tubers and partially purified in a single chromatographic step at large industrial scale. The preparation obtained in this way matched the temperature and pH profile of the species reported earlier by Puri et al. (Food Chemistry 8:203-213, 1982) and was enriched 23 times relative to the original potato tubers on a dry matter basis. Potato PME induced gel formation in calcium pectate across a broad pH range and should be suitable for application in the food industry. The procedure presented here represents a sustainable way to recover enzymes from vegetable juices.