title: Visualization of alpha-chitin with a specific chitin-binding protein (CHB1) from Streptomyces olivaceoviridis.
abstract: Recently we identified a so far unique protein (CHB1) which interacts specifically with crystalline alpha-chitin. Having optimized the binding conditions for CHB1 coupled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), we succeeded in developing a highly sensitive assay to detect alpha-chitin. CHB1-FITC interacted neither with beta- or colloidal chitin nor with chitooligomers or cellulose. With the help of fluorescence or confocal laser microscopy, the relative location of crystalline alpha-chitin within various native samples of fungi and other organisms can be clearly and rapidly visualized.
authors.affiliation: FB Biologie/Chemie, Universität Osnabrück, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeltins
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schrempf
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D002686:Chitin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000737:chemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C091405:CHB1 protein, Streptomyces; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D002686:Chitin; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate