Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
Department of Microbiology, M.G.S. University, Bikaner, India.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2023 Jul 31;244:125385. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125385. Epub 2023 Jun 15.
Pectin methylesterases (PMEs) are enzymes that play a critical role in modifying pectins, a class of complex polysaccharides in plant cell walls. These enzymes catalyze the removal of methyl ester groups from pectins, resulting in a change in the degree of esterification and consequently, the physicochemical properties of the polymers. PMEs are found in various plant tissues and organs, and their activity is tightly regulated in response to developmental and environmental factors. In addition to the biochemical modification of pectins, PMEs have been implicated in various biological processes, including fruit ripening, defense against pathogens, and cell wall remodelling. This review presents updated information on PMEs, including their sources, sequences and structural diversity, biochemical properties and function in plant development. The article also explores the mechanism of PME action and the factors influencing enzyme activity. In addition, the review highlights the potential applications of PMEs in various industrial sectors related to biomass exploitation, food, and textile industries, with a focus on development of bioproducts based on eco-friendly and efficient industrial processes.
果胶甲酯酶（PMEs）是一类在修饰果胶中起关键作用的酶，果胶是植物细胞壁中一类复杂的多糖。这些酶催化果胶中甲酯基团的去除，导致酯化程度的变化，进而影响聚合物的物理化学性质。PMEs 存在于各种植物组织和器官中，其活性受到发育和环境因素的严格调控。除了对果胶的生化修饰外，PMEs 还参与了各种生物学过程，包括果实成熟、抵御病原体和细胞壁重塑。本综述介绍了 PMEs 的最新信息，包括其来源、序列和结构多样性、生化特性以及在植物发育中的功能。文章还探讨了 PME 作用的机制以及影响酶活性的因素。此外，该综述还强调了 PMEs 在与生物质利用、食品和纺织工业相关的各个工业领域的潜在应用，重点是开发基于环保和高效工业过程的生物制品。
