pectinase
8.2
An enzyme that breaks down pectin to make fruit juice clearer
- noun
- /ˈpɛktɪneɪz/
- Specialized
:
pectinasa
- Pectinase is added to the apple juice to clarify it and improve its appearance.
Examples
-
The winemaker used pectinase to enhance the clarity of the white wine.
-
In the laboratory, scientists utilized pectinase to break down the pectin in plant samples.
-
Ripe fruit is mashed and treated with an enzyme, pectinase, to remove the flesh from the seeds.
Academic text (2003)
Surface Forms
pectinase singular
pectinases plural
Morphology
Etymology
Pectinase comes from pectin, the plant substance that makes jam and fruit paste thick, and the enzyme ending -ase meaning 'enzyme'. So, pectinase is an enzyme that breaks down the 'pectin' that makes fruit thick, which is why it is used to make juice clearer and to change jam texture.
