title: Purification and characterization of chitosanase and Exo-beta-D-glucosaminidase from a Koji mold, Aspergillus oryzae IAM2660.
abstract: Chitosan-degrading activity was detected in the culture fluid of Aspergillus oryzae, A. sojae, and A. flavus among various fungal strains belonging to the genus Aspergillus. One of the strong producers, A. oryzae IAM2660 had a higher level of chitosanolytic activity when N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) was used as a carbon source. Two chitosanolytic enzymes, 40 kDa and 135 kDa in molecular masses, were purified from the culture fluid of A. oryzae IAM2660. Viscosimetric assay and an analysis of reaction products by thin-layer chromatography clearly indicated the endo- and exo-type cleavage manner for the 40-kDa and 135-kDa enzymes, respectively. The 40-kDa enzyme, designated chitosanase, catalyzed a hydrolysis of glucosamine (GlcN) oligomers larger than pentamer, glycol chitosan, and chitosan with a low degree of acetylation (0-30%). The 135-kDa exo-beta-D-glucosaminidase,enzyme,named released a single GlcN residue from the GlcN oligomers and chitosan, but did not release GlcNAc residues from either GlcNAc oligomer or colloidal chitin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, and Shinshu University, Ueda, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: X K
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuroiwa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kodaira
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimosaka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okazaki
mesh_terms: D001236:Aspergillus oryzae / Q000201:enzymology*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; D006596:Hexosaminidases; C064499:exo-beta-D-glucosaminidase; C019868:chitosanase