title: Accelerating enzymatic hydrolysis of chitin by microwave pretreatment.
abstract: Response surface analysis was used to determine optimum conditions [2% (w/v) chitin, 57.5 degrees C, 38 min] for microwave irradiation of chitin to improve its enzymatic hydrolysis. V(max)/K(m) of cabbage chitinase toward untreated and microwave-irradiated chitin was found to be 21.1 and 31.7 nmol h(-1) mg(-2) mL, respectively. Similar improvement was observed in the case of pectinase in its unusual catalytic activity of chitin degradation. It was found that a greater extent of chitin hydrolysis by chitinase was possible after the substrate chitin was irradiated with microwaves.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
authors.forename: Ipsita
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Kalyani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.forename: Munishwar N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000737:chemistry*; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002688:Chitinases / Q000737:chemistry*; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000517:prevention & control; D007700:Kinetics; D008872:Microwaves; D011096:Polygalacturonase / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D002686:Chitin; D002688:Chitinases; D011096:Polygalacturonase; D000117:Acetylglucosamine