Identification and partial characterization of a highly active and stable phospholipase D from Brassica juncea seeds

Phospholipase D (PLD) activity has been identified in some new plant sources i.e. Brassica juncea (mustard) seeds, Zingibar officinale (ginger) rhizomes and Azadirachta indica (neem) leaves with the aim of identifying PLDs that possess high catalytic activity and stability. PLD from mustard seeds (PLDms) exhibited the highest PLD specific activity, which was highly pH and temperature tolerant. PLDms unlike many plant PLDs exhibited high thermal stability. The activity of PLDms is optimum in the millimolar concentration of calcium ions and is independent of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). An active and stable enzyme like PLDms may be utilized in the lipid industry. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.