title: Purification and characterization of an endochitinase produced by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.
abstract: The phytopathogenic fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was analyzed for chitinase activity, the best production occurring at the fourth day. A 43 kDa endochitinase with specific activity of 413 U microg(-1) protein was purified corresponding to a 75% yield. The optima of temperature and pH for the enzyme were 50 degrees C and pH 7.0, respectively. The enzyme showed a high stability at 50 degrees C and pH 7.0. Values of pH from 5.0 up to 7.0 gave, at least, 50% of maximum activity, suggesting a biotechnological application. Further studies are in progress to determine the possible use of this endochitinase in biological control.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Prof Paulo de Góes (IMPPG), Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Brasil, Ilha do Fundão, CEP 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: R R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Alviano
authors.forename: R M A
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D002686:Chitin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002688:Chitinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020231:Colletotrichum / Q000201:enzymology*; D003102:Colloids; D003470:Culture Media; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D003470:Culture Media; D002686:Chitin; D002244:Carbon; D002688:Chitinases