The Action of Bacillus circulans WL-12 Chitinases on Partially N-Acetylated Chitosan

Abstract

Both chitinase A1 and D from Bacillus circulans WL-12 specifically hydrolyzed the N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidic bonds in 50% N-acetylated chitosan molecules to produce hetero-oligo-saccharides with GlcNAc at the reducing end residues, together with GlcNAc and (GlcNAc)₂. GlcN-GlcNAc and GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcNAc were produced as major hydrolysis products with chitinase A1 and D, respectively, but GlcN-GlcNAc was not detected in the digest of 50% N-acetylated chitosan with chitinase D.