Quantitative production of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose from crystalline chitin by bacterial chitinase

Carbohydr Res. 2002 Mar 15;337(6):557-9. doi: 10.1016/s0008-6215(02)00007-1.

Abstract

Finely powdered alpha- and beta-chitin can be completely hydrolyzed with chitinase (EC 3.2.1.14) and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52) for the production of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (GlcNAc). Crude chitinase from Burkholderia cepacia TU09 and Bacillus licheniformis SK-1 were used to digest alpha- and beta-chitin powder. Chitinase from B. cepacia TU09 produced GlcNAc in greater than 85% yield from beta- and alpha-chitin within 1 and 7 days, respectively. B. licheniformis SK-1 chitinase completely hydrolyzed beta-chitin within 6 days, giving a final GlcNAc yield of 75%, along with 20% of chitobiose. However, only a 41% yield of GlcNAc was achieved from digesting alpha-chitin with B. licheniformis SK-1 chitinase.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / biosynthesis*
  • Bacillus / enzymology
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Burkholderia cepacia / enzymology
  • Chitin / chemistry
  • Chitin / metabolism*
  • Chitinases / metabolism*
  • Crystallization
  • Hydrolysis
  • Time Factors
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Chitin
  • Chitinases
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases
  • Acetylglucosamine