Pectic depolymerization during papaya fruit riperning: solubilization in oligosaccharides

• Grant number: 14/06535-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2014
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: Joao Paulo Fabi
• Grantee: Paulo Roberto Melfi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/23970-2 - Biological changes of papaya pectins with possible benefits to human health, AP.JP

Abstract

Papaya is a fleshy fruit in which pectins are depolymerized in oligosaccharides throughout ripening. These compounds might exert beneficial health effects in human beings since they are consumed in a regular diet being and they are part of the soluble fibers fraction of fruits. The depolymerization of pectins is achieved by the action of hydrolases (pectinases), with polygalacturonases (PG), galactanases (GAL) and arabinanases (ARF) being the main ones. In this way, the objective of the proposed project is to analyze pectins and oligosaccharides extracted from unripe and ripe papayas and try to correlate with PGs, GALs and ARFs genes expression. The obtained results could indicate the probable sugars that are released during papaya ripening with potential benefits to human consumption. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DO PRADO, SAMIRA B. R.; MELFI, PAULO R.; CASTRO-ALVES, VICTOR C.; BROETTO, SABRINA G.; ARAUJO, ELIAS S.; DO NASCIMENTO, JOAO R. O.; FABI, JOAO P.. Physiological Degradation of Pectin in Papaya Cell Walls: Release of Long Chains Galacturonans Derived from Insoluble Fractions during Postharvest Fruit Ripening. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE, v. 7, JUL 27 2016. (14/06535-6, 13/07914-8, 12/23970-2)