Characterization of 38 kDa and 42 kDa chitinase isozymes from the liver of Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus

Abstract

Characterization was investigated on the 38 kDa and 42 kDa chitinase (EC3.2.1.14) isozymes from the liver of Japanese common squid Todarodes pacificus. Optimum pH toward colloidal chitin was observed at pH 3.0 for the 38 kDa chitinase, and pH 3.0 and 9.0 for the 42 kDa chitinase. K_m and k_cat of the 38 kDa and 42 kDa chitinases toward a longer substrate, glycol chitin, were 0.071 mg/mL and 1.22/s, and 0.074 mg/mL and 0.196/s, respectively. Alternatively, strong substrate inhibition of both chitinases were observed toward a short substrate, N-acetylchitopentaose (GlcNAc₅). Both chitinases decomposed not only chitin but also chitosan (D. A. 95%). The cleavage pattern and reaction rate were investigated using N-acetylchitooligosaccharides (GlcNAc_n, n=2-6). Both chitinases hydrolyzed GlcNAc_n (n=4, 5, and 6). The release of GlcNAc was not observed. The speed of the reaction was observed to be in the following order: GlcNAc₄>GlcNAc₅>GlcNAc₆ for the 38 kDa chitinase, and GlcNAc₆>GlcNAc₅>GlcNAc₄ for the 42 kDa chitinase. Both the chitinases released p-nitrophenol from p-nitrophenyl GlcNAc_n (n2, 3, and 4). N-terminal amino acid sequences of the 38 kDa and 42 kDa chitinases were YLLSXYFTNWSQYRPGAGKYFPQNI and EYRKVXYYTNWSQYREVPAKFFPEN, respectively.