title: Purification and characterisation of a novel chitinase from persimmon (Diospyros kaki) with antifungal activity.
abstract: A novel chitinase from the persimmon fruit was isolated, purified and characterised in this report. The Diospyros kaki chitinase (DKC) was found to be a monomer with a molecular mass of 29 kDa. It exhibited optimal activity at pH 4.5 with broad pH stability from pH 4.0-9.0. It has an optimal temperature of 60°C and thermostable up to 60°C when incubated for 30 min. The internal peptide sequences of DKC showed similarity with other reported plant chitinases. It has the ability to hydrolyse colloidal chitin into chito-oligomers such as chitotriose, chitobiose and into its monomer N-acetylglucosamine. It can be used to degrade chitin waste into useful products such as chito-oligosacchaarides. DKC exhibited antifungal activity towards pathogenic fungus Trichoderma viride. Chitinases with antifungal property can be used as biocontrol agents replacing chemical fungicides.
authors: Bioresource Utilization Laboratory, College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, PR China.
authors: Jianzhi
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Narasimha Kumar
authors: NK
authors: Kopparapu
authors: Qiaojuan
authors: Q
authors: Yan
authors: Shaoqing
authors: S
authors: Yang
authors: Zhengqiang
authors: Z
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002688:Chitinases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D029788:Diospyros / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010940:Plant Proteins; D002688:Chitinases