Avocado Cellulase Extraction and Purification

Optimum conditions for the extraction and purification of avocado cellulase have been established. The best quantiative recovery of the cellulase from avocado tissue was obtained with a 0.04M acetate buffer, pH 5.0, containing 0.4M NaCl and 0.25% (v/v) Triton X‐100. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 4.7 and the molecular weight, based on SDS gel electrophoresis, was 49,000. The enzyme was purified on a cellulose column to a single protein band on SDS gel electrophoresis. Rabbit antibody produced to the cellulase gave further proof of the enzyme's purity.