title: Chemically methylated and reduced pectins: preparation, characterisation by 1H NMR spectroscopy, enzymatic degradation, and gelling properties.
abstract: The gelling properties of pectins are known to be closely related to the degree of methylation (DM) and the distribution of the ester groups. In order to investigate this dependency, a natural citrus pectin (DM 64%) has been methylated to pectins with higher DM or saponified to achieve pectins with lower DM. A simple method for determination of DM by 1H NMR spectroscopy is presented. New modified pectins have been prepared by treatment of pectins having different DM with NaBH(4) to reduce selectively the methyl esters to primary alcohols in the presence of free acids. The degree of reduction (DR) and the DM of the remaining carboxylic acids could likewise be determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The new reduced pectins are recognized by the pectin degrading enzymes polygalacturonase PGI and PGII as well as by pectin lyase, all from Aspergillus niger, but the enzymes exhibit lower specific activities as compared with unmodified pectin. The new reduced pectins exhibit high gelling properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Building 201, DK-2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosenbohm
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lundt
authors.forename: ToveM I E
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: NiallW G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000201:enzymology; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008745:Methylation; D010368:Pectins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011096:Polygalacturonase / Q000378:metabolism*; D012212:Rheology / Q000295:instrumentation; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D010368:Pectins; D011096:Polygalacturonase