Studies on the zymogram method for the detection of pectinolytic activities using CTAB.

Zymogram analysis is a useful tool for the identification of several enzymes. The present study was undertaken to investigate the efficiency gains from the characterization of pectic enzymes on zymograms by staining of pectin-agarose overlays using cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide also known as cetrimide or CTAB. The method is based on the fact that the enzymatic hydrolysis of the pectic substrates included in the agarose matrix gel inhibited their precipitation by CTAB, leading to the appearance of cleared zones in front of the pectin hydrolases and lyases.