Ten putative pectolytic enzymes from the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae were heterologously expressed and functionally characterized.
Activity assays revealed polygalacturonases and pectin methylesterases with different substrate specificities as well as inactive enzymes.
Polygalacturonases and pectin methylesterases degrade pectin synergistically.
Lack of substrate binding and amino acid substitutions explain loss of pectolytic activity.