Microbial chitinase: production and potential applications

• Published in: The Handbook of Microbial Bioresources pp. 331 - 360
• Main Authors: Mohammed Kuddus, Saima
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Wallingford, UK CABI 2016; CAB International
• Subjects: agroindustrial byproducts; anti-fungal properties; antifungal properties; Bacteria; bacterium; Biotechnology; Botany & plant sciences; chemical structure; chitin; chitinase; fermentation; fungicidal properties; hydrogen ion concentration; isolation; metal ions; Microbiology (non-medical); nitrogen; potential of hydrogen; prokaryotes; soil bacteria; soil flora; soil fungi; temperature
• ISBN: 9781780645216; 178064521X
• DOI: 10.1079/9781780645216.0331

Chitin, a biopolymer of -acetyl-D-glucosamine, is extensively found in marine and terrestrial environments. The chitinase enzyme is able to hydrolyse insoluble chitin into its oligo and monomeric components and has received increased attention because of the broad range of biotechnological and industrial applications including: (i) pharmaceutically significant chito-oligosaccharides; (ii) single-cell proteins; (iii) protoplast isolation; (iv) control of pathogenic fungi; and (v) treatment of chitinous waste. The enzyme chitinase is found in various organisms such as bacteria, fungi, crustaceans, insects, invertebrates and higher plants. The commercial application of microbial chitinase is attractive as by comparison to other sources of chitinase it lends itself to large-scale production to fulfill the demands of the current world. This chapter covers microbial sources of chitinase, its structure, its production and applications in industrial and biotechnological sectors.