Effect of Cations and Chemicals on the Activity of Partially Purified Cellulase from Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) Fruits Deteriorated by Aspergillus flavus Linn

A.A. Ajayi, A.O. Adejuwon, O.K. Awojobi and P.O. Olutiola

Within ten days of incubation, freshly ripe tomato fruits (Ibadan local variety) obtained from a local market in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria had completely deteriorated and proteins which possessed cellulolytic activity were released. The enzyme was partially purified by a combination of ammonium sulphate precipitation, molecular exclusion chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. The enzyme was stimulated to varying degrees by Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ but was inhibited by ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, 2, 4-dinitrophenol and mercuric chloride.