Characterization of a grape class IV chitinase

J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Jun 18;62(24):5660-8. doi: 10.1021/jf501225g. Epub 2014 Jun 3.

Abstract

A chitinase was purified from Vitis vinifera Manzoni Bianco grape juice and characterized. On the basis of proteomic analysis of tryptic peptides, a significant match identified the enzyme as a type IV grape chitinase previously found in juices of other V. vinifera varieties. The optimal pH and temperature for activity toward colloidal chitin were found to be 6 and 30 °C, respectively. The enzyme was found to hydrolyze chitin and oligomers of N-acetylglucosamine, generating N,N'-diacetylchitobiose and N-acetylglucosamine as products, but was inactive toward N,N'-diacetylchitobiose. The enzyme exhibited both endo- and exochitinase activities. Because yeast contains a small amount of chitin in the cell wall, the possibility of growth inhibition was tested. At a concentration and pH expected in ripe grapes, no inhibition of wine yeast growth by the chitinase was observed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acetylglucosamine / chemistry
  • Beverages / analysis
  • Cell Wall / chemistry
  • Chitin / chemistry
  • Chitinases / chemistry*
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Disaccharides / chemistry
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteomics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / growth & development
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Temperature
  • Vitis / enzymology*

Substances

  • Disaccharides
  • Plant Proteins
  • Chitin
  • N,N-diacetylchitobiose
  • Chitinases
  • Acetylglucosamine