Chitinase Protein
Description
The Chitinase is purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Product Specs
Product Science Overview
Chitinase is an enzyme that breaks down chitin, a long-chain polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, which is a component of the cell walls of fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods, and the scales of fish and amphibians. Chitinases are found in a variety of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals, where they play roles in defense mechanisms, digestion, and morphogenesis.
Clostridium paraputrificum is a species of anaerobic, spore-forming bacteria that belongs to the genus Clostridium. This bacterium is known for its ability to produce various enzymes, including chitinases, which enable it to degrade chitin. Clostridium paraputrificum is commonly found in soil, marine environments, and the gastrointestinal tracts of animals.
Recombinant chitinase from Clostridium paraputrificum is produced using recombinant DNA technology, where the gene encoding the chitinase enzyme is cloned and expressed in a host organism, typically Escherichia coli. This allows for the production of large quantities of the enzyme for research and industrial applications.
The recombinant chitinase from Clostridium paraputrificum is a non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 582 amino acids and has a molecular mass of approximately 64.2 kDa . It is fused with a His tag at the N-terminus to facilitate purification using affinity chromatography techniques .
The production of recombinant chitinase involves the following steps:
- Gene Cloning: The gene encoding chitinase is isolated from Clostridium paraputrificum and inserted into a suitable expression vector.
- Transformation: The expression vector is introduced into a host organism, such as Escherichia coli, through a process called transformation.
- Expression: The host organism is cultured under conditions that induce the expression of the chitinase gene, leading to the production of the recombinant enzyme.
- Purification: The recombinant chitinase is purified using chromatographic techniques, such as affinity chromatography, which exploits the His tag fused to the enzyme .
Recombinant chitinase from Clostridium paraputrificum has several applications in various fields:
- Agriculture: Chitinase can be used as a biopesticide to control fungal pathogens and insect pests that contain chitin in their cell walls or exoskeletons.
- Biotechnology: Chitinase is used in the production of chitooligosaccharides, which have applications in medicine, agriculture, and food industries.
- Medical Research: Chitinase is studied for its potential role in treating diseases such as asthma and allergies, where chitinase activity is linked to the degradation of chitin-containing allergens .
The lyophilized recombinant chitinase is stable at room temperature for up to three weeks but should be stored desiccated below -18°C for long-term storage . Upon reconstitution, it should be stored at 4°C for short-term use and below -18°C for long-term use, with the addition of a carrier protein to prevent freeze-thaw cycles .
