title: The identification and characterization of chitotriosidase activity in pancreatin from porcine pancreas.
abstract: The versatile oligosaccharide biopolymers, chitin and chitosan, are typically produced using enzymatic processes. However, these processes are usually costly because chitinases and chitosanases are available in limited quantities. Fortunately, a number of commercial enzymes can hydrolyze chitin and chitosan to produce long chain chitin or chitosan oligosaccharides. Here, a platform to screen for enzymes with chitinase and chitosanase activities using a single gel with glycol chitin or glycol chitosan as a substrate was applied. SDS-resistant chitinase and chitosanase activities were observed for pancreatin. Its chitotriosidase had an optimal hydrolysis pH of 4 in the substrate specificity assay. This activity was thermally unstable, but independent of 2-mercaptoethanol. This is the first time a chitotriosidase has been identified in the hog. This finding suggests that oligochitosaccharides can be mass-produced inexpensively using pancreatin.
authors: Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kweishan, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan. crshen@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors: Chia-Rui
authors: CR
authors: Shen
authors: Chao-Lin
authors: CL
authors: Liu
authors: Hsiao-Ping
authors: HP
authors: Lee
authors: Jeen-Kuan
authors: JK
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology*; D010194:Pancreatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D002686:Chitin; D010194:Pancreatin; D048271:Chitosan; D006596:Hexosaminidases; C086400:chitotriosidase