Size Distribution of High Weight Species in Pectin Fractions from Idared Apples

Abstract

ABSTRACT The apparent MW of two apple pectin fractions were investigated using gel permeation chromatography. Both fractions behaved similarly on Sephadex G–200, Sepharose 6B, and Bio Gel 50m. Seventy percent of galacturonic acid residues eluted in a continuous distribution in the range 12.5 million to 1 million Daltons. Ten percent lay above this range, twenty percent below. These high weight species (possibly aggregates) do not appear to be artifacts of the extraction and handling procedures used, and may reflect an intrinsic property of some pectic substances.