title: Primary structure and expression pattern of the 33-kDa chitinase gene from the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma harzianum.
abstract: A gene (chit33) from the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma harzianum, coding for a chitinase of 33 kDa, has been isolated and characterized. Partial amino-acid sequences from the purified 33-kDa chitinase were obtained. The amino-terminal peptide sequence was employed to design an oligonucleotide probe and was used as a primer to isolate a 1.2-kb cDNA. The cDNA codes for a protein of 321 amino acids, which includes a putative signal peptide of 19 amino acids. All microsequenced peptides found in this sequence, indicate that this cDNA codes for the 33-kDa chitinase. A high homology (approximately 43% identity) was found with fungal and plant chitinases, including yeast chitinases. However enzyme characteristics suggest a nutritional (saprophytic or mycoparasitic), rather than a morphogenetic, role for this chitinase. The chit33 gene appears as a single copy in the T. harzianum genome, is strongly suppressed by glucose, and de-repressed under starvation conditions as well as in the presence of autoclaved mycelia and/or fungal cell walls. The 33-kDa chitinase seems to be very stable except under starvation conditions. The independent regulation of each of the chitinases in T. harzianum indicates different specific roles.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Limón
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lora
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Cruz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llobell
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Benítez
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pintor-Toro
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002688:Chitinases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D002688:Chitinases