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PubMed1998

Regulation of chitin synthesis during dimorphic growth of Candida albicans.

Candida albicans has three genes encoding chitin synthase enzymes. In wild-type strains, the expression of CHS2 and CHS3 peaked 1-2 h after the induction of hyphal growth, whilst mRNA levels in a non-germinative strain, CA2, remained low under the same conditions. CHS1 gene expression did not peak during germ tube formation but remained at low levels in both yeast and hyphal growth. The pattern of gene expression did not predict the changes in measured chitin synthase activities or changes in chitin content during dimorphic transition. Chitin synthase activity increased steadily, and did not peak shortly after germ tube induction, and activity profiles were similar in germ-tube-competent and germ-tube-negative strains. The phenotype of a delta chs2 null mutant suggested that CHS2 encoded the major enzyme activity in vitro and was largely responsible for elevated chitin synthase activities in microsomal preparations from hyphal cells compared to yeast cells. However, CaChs3p was responsible for synthesis of most chitin in both yeast and hyphae. Three independent chitin assays gave markedly different estimates of the relative chitin content of yeast and hyphae and wild-type and chs mutants. Only one of the methods gave a significantly higher chitin content for hyphal compared to yeast cell walls and a lower chitin content for hyphae of the delta chs2 null mutant compared to the parental strain.

Candida albicans↗
PubMed2005

A chitin synthase and its regulator protein are critical for chitosan production and growth of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.

Chitin is an essential component of the cell wall of many fungi. Chitin also can be enzymatically deacetylated to chitosan, a more flexible and soluble polymer. Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcal meningoencephalitis, particularly in immunocompromised patients. In this work, we show that both chitin and chitosan are present in the cell wall of vegetatively growing C. neoformans yeast cells and that the levels of both rise dramatically as cells grow to higher density in liquid culture. C. neoformans has eight putative chitin synthases, and strains with any one chitin synthase deleted are viable at 30 degrees C. In addition, C. neoformans genes encode three putative regulator proteins, which are homologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Skt5p. None of these three is essential for viability. However, one of the chitin synthases (Chs3) and one of the regulators (Csr2) are important for growth. Cells with deletions in either CHS3 or CSR2 have several shared phenotypes, including sensitivity to growth at 37 degrees C. The similarity of their phenotypes also suggests that Csr2 specifically regulates chitin synthesis by Chs3. Lastly, both chs3Delta and the csr2Delta mutants are defective in chitosan production, predicting that Chs3-Csr2 complex with chitin deacetylases for conversion of chitin to chitosan. These data suggest that chitin synthesis could be an excellent antifungal target.

Cell Shape↗
PubMed1999

Characteristics of chitin-binding proteins from Streptomycetes.

During growth in the presence of chitin-containing substrates, many Streptomyces strains have been shown to secrete formerly unknown, small chitin-binding proteins (CHBs) which lack enzymatic activity, specifically target and invade, like a glue, alpha-chitin, but not beta-chitin or other polysaccharides. CHBs were purified, and their N-terminal amino acids were determined. Deduced oligonucleotides were used to identify the corresponding genes, which were then sequenced. The deduced CHB1 and CHB2 proteins contain 201 and 200 amino acids, respectively, 77.7% of which are identical. Several motifs, including the relative location and spacing of four tryptophan residues, are conserved in CHB1 and CHB2. The affinity of CHB1 to crab shell chitin is two times higher than that of CHB2. Comparative studies of various generated mutant CHB1 proteins led to the conclusion that mainly one of the exposed tryptophan residues directly contributed to the interaction with chitin. Using CHB doupled with FITC (fluoresceine isothiocyanate), a highly specific and rapid assay was developed to visualize the location of crystalline alpha-chitin within native samples by fluorescence or confocal laser microscopy. In contrast, the N-terminal domain (12 kDa) of the S. olivaceoviridis exochitinase can be used to detect alpha- and beta-chitin. The structural parameters inducing the recognition and possible loosening of alpha-chitin or of alpha- and beta-chitin are at present being investigated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Identification of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutation that allows cells to grow without chitin synthase 1 or 2.

Chitin is a component of the yeast cell wall which is localized to the septum between mother and daughter cells. Previous work in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has shown that this organism possesses three chitin synthases, 1, 2, and 3. Disruption experiments have shown that loss of chitin synthase 2 has a more profound effect on cell viability than loss of either of the other two and is lethal in complete media. We report here the finding of an S. cerevisiae strain which does not require the chitin synthase 2 structural gene for viability. We present evidence that there is a gene in this strain which suppresses the lethality of disruption of the chitin synthase 2 structural gene and is genetically distinct from the structural genes for chitin synthase 1 and chitin synthase 2. We show that an S. cerevisiae mutant containing the suppressor and lacking both structural genes for chitin synthase 1 and 2 has normal amounts of chitin in its cell wall. We hypothesize that the suppressor gene encodes or controls the expression of chitin synthase 3.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2003

Detection and characterization of chitinases and other chitin-modifying enzymes.

Multiple industrial and medical uses of chitin and its derivatives have been developed in recent years. The demand for enzymes with new or desirable properties continues to grow as additional uses of chitin, chitooligosaccharides, and chitosan become apparent. Microorganisms, the primary degraders of chitin in the environment, are a rich source of valuable chitin-modifying enzymes. This review summarizes many methods that can be used to isolate and characterize chitin-modifying enzymes including chitin depolymerases, chitodextrinases, chitin deacetylases, N-acetylglucosaminidases, chitin-binding proteins, and chitosanases. Chitin analogs, zymography, detection of reducing sugars, genomic library screening, chitooligosaccharide electrophoresis, degenerate PCR primer design, thin layer chromatography, and chitin-binding assays are discussed.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2005

Chitin-based tubes for tissue engineering in the nervous system.

The purpose of this study was to investigate chitin and chitosan as potential materials for biodegradable nerve guides. Transparent chitin hydrogel tubes were synthesized, for the first time, from chitosan solutions using acylation chemistry and mold casting techniques. Alkaline hydrolysis of chitin tubes resulted in chitosan tubes, with the extent of hydrolysis controlling the resulting amine content. This, in turn, impacted compressive strength and cell adhesion. Chitosan tubes were mechanically stronger than their chitin origins, as measured by the transverse compressive test, where tubes having degrees of acetylation of 1%, 3%, 18% (i.e. chitosan) and 94% (i.e. chitin) supported loads at a 30% displacement of 40.6 +/- 4.3, 25.3 +/- 4.5, 10.6 +/- 0.8, and 8.7 +/- 0.4 g, respectively. However, the chitin processing methodology could be optimized for compressive strength, by either incorporating reinforcing coils in the tube wall, or air-drying the hydrogel tubes. Chitin and chitosan supported adhesion and differentiation of primary chick dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro. Chitosan films showed significantly enhanced neurite outgrowth relative to chitin films, reflecting the dependence of nerve cell affinity on the amine content in the polysaccharide: neurites extended 1794.7 +/- 392.0 microm/mm(2) on chitosan films vs. 140.5 +/- 41.6 microm/mm(2) on chitin films after 2 days of culture. This implies that cell adhesion and neurite extension can be adjusted by amine content, which is important for tissue engineering in the nervous system. The methods for easy processing and modification of chitin and chitosan described herein, allow the mechanical properties and cyto-compatibility to be controlled and provide a means for a broader investigation into their use in biomedical applications.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Structure of insect chitin isolated from beetle larva cuticle and silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupa exuvia.

Chitin samples in a alpha-form structure were isolated from beetle larva cuticle and silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupa exuvia by treatment with 1 N HCl and 1 N NaOH. Chitosan was prepared by treating them in 40% NaOH containing NaBH(4). Chitin and chitosan were analyzed by X-ray, [13C]CP/MAS NMR, [13C]FT-NMR, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods. Insect chitin degraded more readily than shrimp chitin when treated with 6 N HCl and the enzyme-chitinase. After treatment with 2 N HCl at 100 degrees C, the insect chitin crystallinity increased. N-deacetylation of insect chitin was easier than that of crustaceous chitin, and about 94% of the N-acetyl groups were removed in one treatment with 40% NaOH for 4 h at 110 degrees C. After treatment with 2 N HCl, 55% of the N-acetyl groups of silkworm chitin were removed under the same conditions. Beetle chitin showed a higher affinity for chitinase than shrimp chitin.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

In vitro and in vivo degradation of films of chitin and its deacetylated derivatives.

Chitin was deacetylated to various extents with NaOH to obtain partially and thoroughly deacetylated chitins. The specimens used in this study were deacetylated by 0 (chitin), 68.8, 73.3, 84.0, 90.1 and 100 mol% (chitosan). Films with a thickness of 150 microns were prepared from these specimens by the solution casting method. The equilibrated water contents of the films were 52.4 (chitin), 73.8 (68.8 mol%), 64.2 (73.3 mol%), 61.8 (84.0 mol%), 57.8 (90.1 mol%) and 49.7 wt% (chitosan), while the tensile strengths of the water-swollen films were 244 (chitin), 197 (68.8 mol%), 232 (73.3 mol%), 320 (84.0 mol%), 293 (90.1 mol%) and 433 g mm-2 (chitosan). The maximum water content and the minimum tensile strength observed for a specimen deacetylated between 0 and 68.8 mol% may be ascribed to the lowered crystallinity by deacetylation of chitin, since both chitin and chitosan are crystalline polymers. Unlike their physical properties, in vitro and in vivo degradations of these films occurred less rapidly without passing a maximum or minimum, as their degree of deacetylation became higher. The in vitro degradation was carried out by immersing the films in buffered aqueous solution of pH 7 containing lysozyme at 37 degrees C, while the in vivo degradation was studied by subcutaneously implanting the films in the back of rats. It was found that the rate of in vivo biodegradation was very high for chitin and 68.8 mol% deacetylated chitin, compared with that for the 73.3 mol% deacetylated chitin. The films which were more than 73.3 mol% deacetylated showed slower biodegradation. Interestingly, the tissue reaction towards highly deacetylated derivatives including chitosan was very mild, although they had cationic primary amines in the molecule.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1998

The influence of anionic chitin derivatives on calcium phosphate crystallization.

The influence of two water-soluble anionic chitin derivatives, sodium carboxymethyl-chitin (CM-chitin) and phosphoryl-chitin (P-chitin) on the crystallization of calcium phosphate by seeded growth and turbidimetry were studied. The adsorption of these derivatives onto hydroxyapatite obtained at 37 degrees C, fitted the Langmuir isotherm. The affinity constant and number of adsorption sites were measured at 2.9 and 1.69 micromol m(-2) for CM-chitin and 11.85 and 4.23 micromol m(-2) for P-chitin. P-chitin exerted a potent inhibitory effect on the seeded growth of hydroxyapatite from a supersaturated solution, reducing the initial rate of crystallization by more than 90% at a solution concentration of 10(-4)M. Both chitin derivatives also retarded the rate of spontaneous calcium phosphate precipitation. The type of calcium phosphate precipitated was poorly crystallized, calcium-deficient apatite. The chitin derivatives were found to be incorporated into the precipitate and influenced both the phase and morphology of calcium phosphate formed.

Anions↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Laser photolysis of carboxymethylated chitin derivatives in aqueous solution. Part 1. Formation of hydrated electron and a long-lived radical.

Laser photolysis experiments on carboxymethylated chitin derivatives, such as carboxymethyl chitin (CM-chitin) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CM-chitosan), in aqueous solution by a 248 nm excimer laser were carried out for the first time. The transient absorption spectra of photolyzed CM-chitin or CM-chitosan solutions revealed a strong band with the maximum at 720 nm, which was assigned to the hydrated electron (eaq-). In the presence of argon, the eaq- decays by reacting with CM-chitin or CM-chitosan, and the rate constants are (6.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) and (3.7 +/- 0.1) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. Long-lived radicals with relatively weak absorption intensity were detected in the near-UV region. The absorption band was not notably characteristic and showed only an increasing absorption toward shorter wavelengths. It is similar to the signal of *CM-chitin or *CM-chitosan macroradicals formed by the reaction of CM-chitin or CM-chitosan with an OH* radical. It was assigned to *CM-chitin- or *CM-chitosan- macroradicals formed by eaq- + CM-chitin or CM-chitosan reaction. CM-chitin aqueous solutions were further examined by pulse radiolysis in order to confirm the site of the long-lived radical.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Preparation and evaluation of trimethylsilylated chitin as a versatile precursor for facile chemical modifications.

Trimethylsilylation of chitin was studied in detail to establish a reliable method, and the properties of the resulting product were elucidated. Chitin was successfully trimethylsilylated with a mixture of hexamethyldisilazane and trimethylsilyl chloride in pyridine. Compared to alpha-chitin, beta-chitin was much more reactive and advantageous as a starting material to prepare fully substituted chitin in a simple manner, though alpha-chitin also underwent full silylation under appropriate conditions. The resulting silylated chitin was characterized by marked solubility in common organic solvents and by easy desilylation to regenerate hydroxy groups, which enabled clean preparation of chitin films. The reactivity of the silylated chitin was examined by treating with triphenylmethyl chloride and acetic anhydride as typical alkylating and acylating reagents, and complete substitutions were readily accomplished. The silylated chitin has thus proved to be a superb precursor for modification reactions.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Esterification of beta-chitin via intercalation by carboxylic anhydrides.

beta-chitin is known to form intercalation complexes with aliphatic alcohols and amines. We found that it also forms complexes with carboxylic anhydrides. When the beta-chitin-acetic anhydride complex was heated to 105 degrees C, the hydroxyl groups of chitin were acetylated by a host-guest reaction, maintaining the host's crystal structure. Structures of complex and acetylated products were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, (13)C CP/MAS NMR, and infrared spectroscopy. The maximum degree of substitution (DS) was close to 1.0, suggesting regioselective esterification at the C6 position of chitin. Partially acetylated beta-chitin with a DS of 0.4 could incorporate various guest species that are difficult to be incorporated by original beta-chitin. In contrast, beta-chitin acetate with a DS of 1 lost the ability to form a complex. Intercalation complexes of beta-chitin with cyclic anhydrides (succinic and maleic) also underwent esterification by heating, and the products with a DS of approximately 1 dissolved in aqueous alkali, apparently as the result of the dissociation of introduced carboxyl groups. These phenomena are potentially useful in controlling the complexation ability of beta-chitin and the preparation of regioselectively esterified chitin derivatives.

Acetates↗
PubMed2000

Prevention of death of axotomized hypoglossal neurones and promotion of regeneration by chitin grafting.

1. Chitin is known to promote skin wound healing. In this study, chitin, prepared from Zuwai crab shell, was used as a bridge between the proximal and distal stumps of cut hypoglossal nerves in shrews. We compared the effects of chitin on the regeneration of transected right hypoglossal nerve axons, with those of porcine dermis, bovine dermal aterocollagen, and autologous nerve bundles. 2. To assess the survival of neurones, the size of neuronal cell body, and number of motoneurones were determined in the absence of any bridged material and in the presence of porcine dermis, bovine dermal aterocollagen, chitin, or autologous nerve bundles as a bridge. 3. Our results revealed a significantly better outcome in chitin and autologous nerve bridged groups; the size of neuronal cell body and number of hypoglossal neurones were higher than in the other groups. Chitin also enhanced the regeneration of neurones; the number of horseradish peroxide positive neurones indicative of repaired axonal processes was significantly higher in chitin and autologous nerve-bridged groups than in other groups. 4. Our results demonstrated that the use of chitin sheet or autograft successfully prevented the death of severed neurones and promoted the regeneration of the lesioned nerve. Although the mechanisms underlying the effects of chitin are still unknown, chitin seems to be a potentially useful biocompatible material for nerve repair and regeneration.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Structural and functional definition of the human chitinase chitin-binding domain.

Mammalian chitinase, a chitinolytic enzyme expressed by macrophages, has been detected in atherosclerotic plaques and is elevated in blood and tissues of guinea pigs infected with Aspergillus. Its normal physiological function is unknown. To understand how the enzyme interacts with its substrate, we have characterized the chitin-binding domain. The C-terminal 49 amino acids make up the minimal sequence required for chitin binding activity. The absence of this domain does not affect the ability of the enzyme to hydrolyze the soluble substrate, triacetylchitotriose, but abolishes hydrolysis of insoluble chitin. Within the minimal chitin-binding domain are six cysteines; mutation of any one of these to serine results in complete loss of chitin binding activity. Analysis of purified recombinant chitin-binding domain revealed the presence of three disulfide linkages. The recombinant domain binds specifically to chitin but does not bind chitosan, cellulose, xylan, beta-1, 3-glucan, beta-1,3-1,4-glucan, or mannan. Fluorescently tagged chitin-binding domain was used to demonstrate chitin-specific binding to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Mucor rouxii, and Neurospora crassa. These experiments define structural features of the minimal domain of human chitinase required for both specifically binding to and hydrolyzing insoluble chitin and demonstrate relevant binding within the context of the fungal cell wall.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Crystal structure and binding properties of the Serratia marcescens chitin-binding protein CBP21.

Chitin proteins are commonly found in bacteria that utilize chitin as a source of energy. CBP21 is a chitin-binding protein from Serratia marcescens, a Gram-negative soil bacterium capable of efficient chitin degradation. When grown on chitin, S. marcescens secretes large amounts of CBP21, along with chitin-degrading enzymes. In an attempt to understand the molecular mechanism of CBP21 action, we have determined its crystal structure at 1.55 angstroms resolution. This is the first structure to be solved of a family 33 carbohydrate-binding module. The structure reveals a "budded" fibronectin type III fold consisting of two beta-sheets, arranged as a beta-sheet sandwich, with a 65-residue "bud" consisting of three short helices, located between beta-strands 1 and 2. Remarkably, conserved aromatic residues that have been suggested previously to play a role in chitin binding were mainly found in the interior of the protein, seemingly incapable of interacting with chitin, whereas the structure revealed a surface patch of highly conserved, mainly hydrophilic residues. The roles of six of these conserved surface-exposed residues (Tyr-54, Glu-55, Glu-60, His-114, Asp-182, and Asn-185) were probed by site-directed mutagenesis and subsequent binding studies. All single point mutations lowered the affinity of CBP21 for beta-chitin, as shown by 3-8-fold increases in the apparent binding constant. Thus, binding of CBP21 to chitin seems to be mediated primarily by conserved, solvent-exposed, polar side chains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Role of the N-terminal polycystic kidney disease domain in chitin degradation by chitinase A from a marine bacterium, Alteromonas sp. strain O-7.

AIMS: The aim of study was to clarify whether the polycystic kidney disease (PKD) domain of chitinase A (ChiA) participates in the hydrolysis of powdered chitin. METHODS AND RESULTS: Site-directed mutagenesis of the conserved aromatic residues of PKD domain was performed by PCR. The aromatic residues, W30, Y48, W64 and W67, were replaced by alanine, and single- and double-mutant chitinases were produced in Escherichia coli XL10 and purified with HisTrap column. Single mutations were not quite effective on the hydrolysing activities against chitinous substrates when compared with wild-type ChiA. However, mutations of W30 and W67 decreased the activities against powdered chitin by 87.6%. Wild-type and mutant PKD domains were produced in E. coli TOP10 and purified with glutathione-Sepharose 4B column. Wild-type PKD domain showed significant binding activity to powdered chitin, whereas mutations of W30 and W67 reduced the binding activity to powdered chitin drastically. These results suggest that PKD domain of ChiA is essential for effective hydrolysis of powdered chitin through the interaction between two aromatic residues and chitin molecule. CONCLUSIONS: PKD domain of ChiA participates in the effective hydrolysis of powdered chitin through the interaction between two aromatic residues (W30 and W67) and chitin molecule. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The findings of this study provide important information on chitin degradation by microbial chitinases.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1989

Preparation and release characteristics of cisplatin albumin microspheres containing chitin and treated with chitosan.

Cisplatin (CDDP) containing albumin microspheres and microcapsules incorporating biodegradable macromolecules, chitin and chitosan, were prepared, and their CDDP content and releasing ability and susceptibility to various enzymes were examined. Chitin was incorporated during preparation of the microspheres, while chitosan was used to treat preformed microspheres. CDDP content was remarkably increased by chitin; when chitin was incorporated at a concentration of 1.5%, the CDDP content of the microspheres was found to be 16.2% (1.8 times that with no addition of chitin). CDDP release was suppressed by chitin and chitosan. The 50% CDDP release time was about 1.5 h when no chitin was added, but about 16 h was required when chitin was incorporated into the microspheres at a concentration of 1.5%. Chitin and chitosan suppressed the decomposition by protease. The microspheres treated with 70% deacetylated chitosan showed the greatest susceptibility to lysozyme. In conclusion, CDDP release can be controlled by the use of chitin or chitosan, and the microspheres should show no immunogenicity in vivo because of their susceptibility to lysozyme.

Albumins↗
PubMed1984

Isolation of chitin synthetase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Purification of an enzyme by entrapment in the reaction product.

Chitin synthetase, in the zymogen form, was extracted with digitonin from a particulate fraction from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and converted into active form by treatment with immobilized trypsin. When the activated enzyme was incubated with UDP-GlcNAc and other components of an assay mixture, a chitin precipitate formed, trapping a large portion of the synthetase. The enzyme was easily extracted frm the chitin gel with a recovery of approximately 50% and an enrichment of approximately 100-fold. Further purification was obtained by repeating the chitin step. After polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, the purified synthetase showed a major band corresponding to Mr 63,000, a weaker band at Mr 74,000, and some other minor bands. Under nondenaturing conditions, an Mr of 570,000 was calculated for the enzyme from Stokes radius and sedimentation coefficient determinations. After electrophoresis in a nondenaturing gel and incubation with the components of the standard assay, chitin was formed and precipitated in the gel, yielding an opaque band. Soluble oligosaccharides were not precursors for insoluble chitin, suggesting that synthesis of chitin chains takes place by a processive mechanism. N-Acetylglucosamine stimulated the purified synthetase only slightly and did not participate as a primer in the reaction. The same chain length, somewhat more than 100 units of GlcNAc, was determined in samples of chitin that had been synthesized either in vivo, or with a membrane preparation or with purified synthetase. These results suggest that chitin synthetase itself is capable both of initiating chitin chains without a primer and of determining their length.

Cell Membrane↗