Purification and characterization of chitinase from a marine bacterium, Vibrio sp 98CJ11027

Abstract

Chitin-degrading marine bacterial strain 98CJ11027 was isolated from bryozoa from the coastal area of Cheju Island, Korea, and identified as a member of the genus Vibrio, The molecular mass of the main extracellular chitinase (chitinase I), purified from strain 98CJ11027, was estimated to be 98 kDa, The optimal condition for chitinase I activity is pH 6.0 and 45 degreesC. The activity was inhibited by Fe2+ and Cu2+. Chitinase I displayed the hydrolysis type of chitobiosidase and catalyzed reversed hydrolysis leading to the synthesis of tetraacetylchitotetraose.