title: Mode of action of chitin deacetylase from Mucor rouxii on N-acetylchitooligosaccharides.
abstract: The mode of action of chitin deacetylase from the fungus Mucor rouxii on N-acetylchitooligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization 1-7 has been elucidated. Identification of the sequence of chitin oligomers following enzymatic deacetylation was verified by the alternative use of two specific exo-glycosidases in conjunction with HPLC. The results were further verified by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. It was observed that the length of the oligomer is important for enzyme action. The enzyme cannot effectively deacetylate chitin oligomers with a degree of polymerization lower than three. Tetra-N-acetylchitotetraose and penta-N-acetylchitopentaose are fully deacetylated by the enzyme, while in the case of tri-N-acetylchitotriose, hexa-N-acetylchitohexaose and hepta-N-acetylchitoheptaose the reducing-end residue always remains intact. Furthermore, the enzyme initially removes an acetyl group from the nonreducing-end residue of all chitin oligomers with a degree of polymerization higher than 2, and further catalyses the hydrolysis of the following acetamido groups in a processive fashion. The results are in agreement with the mode of action that the same enzyme exhibits on partially deacetylated water soluble chitosan polymers.
authors.affiliation: Enzyme Technology Division, Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsigos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zydowicz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domard
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bouriotis
mesh_terms: D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D001704:Biopolymers; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D048271:Chitosan; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009089:Mucor / Q000201:enzymology*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan; D000581:Amidohydrolases; C019866:chitin deacetylase