Comparative Biochemistry of Chitinases-Anomeric Form of the Reaction Products

Abstract

Anomeric form of the products from chitinase-catalyzed hydrolysis was analyzed by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. When the chitinase from Streptomyces griseus was added to the solution of substrate, N, N, N, N, N-pentaacetylchitopentaitol, β-anomer was first produced by the enzymatic hydrolysis, and then transformed to α-anomer by mutarotation. In contrast, the chitinase from Dioscorea opposita (yam) produced only α-anomer, which was transformed to β-anomer by mutarotation.