Exogenous Calcium Ions Enhance Patulin Adsorption Capability of .

Patulin contamination is a serious issue that restricts the development of the global fruit processing industry. Yeasts adsorb patulin more effectively than other microbial adsorbents, and this adsorption process depends mainly on the function of the cell wall. The present study examined the effect of exogenous calcium, in concentrations ranging from 0 to 1 mol/L, on cell wall structure and on patulin adsorption capability; the patulin adsorption capability of yeast was found to strengthen with an increase in exogenous calcium concentrations from 1 × 10 to 1 × 10 mol/L. Moreover, yeast cell wall thickness, β-1,3-glucan content, and the activities of the key catalytic enzymes β-1,3-glucanase and β-1,3-glycosyl transferase were all increased within this range. The results indicate that exogenous calcium activates key enzymes that are crucial for cell wall network formation and patulin adsorption capability.