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Identification and molecular characterization of the chitinase gene, EaChi, from the midgut of the earthworm, Eisenia andrei  

Tak, Eun Sik (Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University)
Kim, Dae hwan (Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University)
Lee, Myung Sik (Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University)
Ahn, Chi Hyun (Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University)
Park, Soon Cheol (Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association / v.18, no.3, 2010 , pp. 31-37 More about this Journal
Abstract
Chitinases (EC 3.2.1.14) hydrolyze the ${\beta}$-1,4-linkages in chitin, the second most abundant polymer of N-acetyl-${\beta}$-D-glucosamine which is a structural component of protective biological matrices such as fungal cell walls and insect exoskeletons. The glycosyl hydrolases 18 family including chitinases is an ancient gene family widely expressed in archea, prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Since earthworms live in the soil with a lot of microbial activities and fungi are supposed to be a major component of the diet of earthworm, it has been reported that there would be appropriate immune system to protect themselves from microorganisms attacks. In this study, the novel chitinase, EaChi, from the midgut of earthworm, Eisenia andrei, were identified and characterized. To obtain full-length cDNA sequence of chitinase, RT-PCR and RACE-PCR analyses were carried out by using the previously identified EST sequence amongst cDNA library established from the midgut of E. andrei. EaChi, a partial chitinase gene, was composed of 927 nucleotides encoding 309 amino acids. By the multiple sequence alignments of amino acids with other different species, it was revealed that EaCHI is a member of glycosyl hydrolases 18 family, which has two highly conserved domains, substrate binding and catalytic domain.
Keywords
Chitinase; Novel glycosyl hydrolase; Earthworm; Eisenia andrei; Midgut;
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