Evaluation of the activity of hemicellulase and xylanase under different conditions of pH, temperatur and catechin concentration

Plant cell wall contains hemicellulose which is degraded by the enzyme hemicellulase. Hemicelluloses are the second most abundant polysaccharides present in plants, after cellulose. Hemicellulose helps to cross-link the plant cell wall components to give the walls rigidity and strength. which serve as mechanical support to plants. Sodium acetate buffer (0.1 M) was used to check the optimum enzyme activity of the hemicellulase and xylanase enzymes by the DNSA method along with pH and temperature optimisation. Confirmatory activity check of the enzyme was carried out on dried leaves. Presence of catechin in the reaction mixture was studied as its inhibition is well documented. It was observed that catechin facilitated the reaction. The detailed mechanism is discussed in the article.