A novel polygalacturonase (PG1) is purified from the fungus Penicillium occitanis.
PG1 is highly thermoactive with maximal enzymatic activity at 70 °C.
The specific activity toward PGA is amongst the highest fungal ones.
The PG1 showed an endo-polygalacturonase behavior.
The purified PG1 enhanced the yield of juice extracted from citrus.