Chitobiose production by using a novel thermostable chitinase from Bacillus licheniformis strain JS isolated from a mushroom bed.
The thermophilic Bacillus licheniformis strain JS was isolated from a bed of mushrooms, Pleurotus sajor-caju. The organism could produce a novel, single-component, thermostable chitinase that was purified by ion-exchange chromatography using DEAE-cellulose in 7.64% yield and in an 8.1-fold enhancement in purity. Its molecular weight is 22kDa. The enzyme is a chitobiosidase, since the chitin hydrolysate is N(I),N(II)-diacetylchitobiose. The optimum temperature for enzyme activity is 55°C, and the optimum pH is 8.0. It was completely inhibited by Hg(2+) ions whereas Co(2+) ions served as an activator. The thermostability of this enzyme is important in the bioconversion of chitinous waste and for the production of chitooligosaccharides.
Department of Microbiology, Shivaji University, Vidyanagar, Kolhapur 416 004, India.
Shailesh R
SR
Waghmare
Jai S
JS
Ghosh
D000363:Agaricales; D001407:Bacillus / Q000201:enzymology*; D002688:Chitinases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004795:Enzyme Stability
D004187:Disaccharides; C032438:chitobiose; D002688:Chitinases