• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.563-569
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• 2004

The DNA sequence of the chitosanase gene (choK) from $\beta$-Proteobacterium KNU3 showed an 1,158-bp open reading frame that encodes a protein of 386 amino acids with a novel 74 signal peptide. The degenerated primers based on the partial deduced amino acid sequences from MALDI- TOF MS analyses yielded the 820 bp of the PCR product. Based on this information, double inverse PCR cloning experiments, which use the two specific sets of PCR primers rather than single set primers, identified the unknown 1.2 kb of the choK gene. Subsequently, a 1.8 kb of full choK gene was cloned from another PCR cloning experiment and it was then subcloned into pGEM T-easy and pUC18 vectors. The recombinant E. coli clone harboring recombinant pUC18 vector produced a clear halo around the colony in the glycol chitosan plates. The recombinant ChoK protein was secreted into medium in a mature form while the intracellular ChoK was produced without signal peptide cleavage. The activity staining of PAGE showed that the recombinant ChoK protein was identical to the chitosanase of wild-type. The comparison of deduced amino acid sequences of choK revealed that there is 92% identity with that of Sphingobacterium multivorum chitosanase. Judging from the conserved module in other bacterial chitosanases, chitosanase of KNU3 strain (ChoK) belongs to the family 80 of glycoside hydrolases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.960-968
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• 2003

A bacterial isolate showing a strong endochitosanase activity was isolated from soil and then characterized. The isolate was identified and designated as Bacillus cereus P16, based on morphological and biochemical properties, assimilation tests, cellular fatty acids pattern, along with 16S rRNA gene sequence. The optimized medium for producing extracellular chitosanase in a batch culture contained 1% tryptone, 0.5% chitosan, and 1% NaCl (pH 7.0). Powder chitosan and tryptone served the best as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, for the chitosanase production. Chitosanase activity was the highest when culture was completed at $37^{\circ}C$ among various temperatures ($20-42^{\circ}C$) tested in a shaking incubator (200 rpm). The levels of chitosanase activity in the culture fluid were 2.0 U/ml and 3.8 U/ml, respectively, when incubated in a flask for 60 h and in a jar fermenter for 24 h. The culture supernatant showed a strong liquefying activity on the soluble chitosan. The viscosity of 1% chitosan solution, that was incubated with the culture supernatant, was rapidly decreased, suggesting the secretion of endochitosanolytic enzymes by P16. The culture fluid revealed six endo-type chitosanase isozymes, two major (38 and 45 kD), and four minor (54, 65, 82, and 96 kD) forms by staining profile. The crude enzymes were very stable, and full activity was maintained for 4 weeks at $4^{\circ}C\;or\;-20^{\circ}C$ in the culture supernatant, suggesting a highly desirable stability rate for making an industrial application of the crude enzymes. The supernatant also cleaved the insoluble chitosan powder, but the hydrolysis rate was much lower. The enzymic degradation products of chitosan contained $(GlcN)_n$ (n=2-8). The concentration of chitosan in the reaction mixture of the crude enzyme affected the chitooligosaccharides composition of the hydrolysis products. When the higher concentration of chitosan was used, the higher degree of polymerized chitooligosaccharides were produced. By comparison with other commercial chitosanase preparations, P16 was indeed found to be a valuable enzyme source for industrial production of chitooligosaccharides from chitosan.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.449-454
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• 1998

A thennostable chitosanase was purified from Bacillus sp. KFB-C108, by fractionation of 30 to 70% saturation with ammonium sulfate, DEAE-Toyopearl chromatography, Butyl-Toyopearl chromatography, and TSK-Gel HW-55F gel filtration. The purified enzyme showed a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the molecular weight was estimated to be 48 kDa. The enzyme degraded soluble chitosan and colloidal chitosan, but did not degrade glycol chitosan, chitin, and the other compounds investigated. There was no effect on the chitosanase activity by treatment with chelating agents, alkylating agents, and various metals investigated, and only cobalt ions inhibited the activity. Optimum temperature and pH were $55^{\circ}C$ and 6.5, respectively. The enzyme was stable after heat treatment at $80^{\circ}C$ for 10 min or $70^{\circ}C$ for 30 min and fairly stable in several organic solvents as well. Chitosan was hydrolyzed to $(GlcN)_4$as a major product by incubation with the enzyme.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 1999

The optimal culture condition of Bacillus sp. P16 was investigated for production of an extracellular endo-splitting chitosanase. The best carbon and nitrogen sources for the chitosanase production were chitosan and tryptone, respectively. The best condition for the maximum activity was at $37^{\circ}C$ in a medium containing 0.5% powdered chitosan, 1% tryptone, and 1% NaCl(at initial pH 7.0) in a rotary shaker(200 rpm). In a jar fermenter, the culture duration shortened to $6{\sim}12$ hr for maximum activity and the enzyme activity increased about 100% compared with that of flask culture.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1312-1321
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• 2011

Enzyme extracts of cellulase [filter paper cellulase (FPase) and carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase)], chitinase, and chitosanase produced by Aspergillus niger NRRL-567 were evaluated. The interactive effects of initial moisture and different inducers for FP cellulase and CMCase production were optimized using response surface methodology. Higher enzyme activities [FPase $79.24{\pm}4.22$ IU/gram fermented substrate (gfs) and CMCase $124.04{\pm}7.78$ IU/gfs] were achieved after 48 h fermentation in solid-state medium containing apple pomace supplemented with rice husk [1% (w/w)] under optimized conditions [pH 4.5, moisture 55% (v/w), and inducers veratryl alcohol (2 mM/kg), copper sulfate (1.5 mM/kg), and lactose 2% (w/w)] (p<0.05). Koji fermentation in trays was carried out and higher enzyme activities (FPase $96.67{\pm}4.18$ IU/gfs and CMCase $146.50{\pm}11.92$ IU/gfs) were achieved. The nonspecific chitinase and chitosanase activities of cellulase enzyme extract were analyzed using chitin and chitosan substrates with different physicochemical characteristics, such as degree of deacetylation, molecular weight, and viscosity. Higher chitinase and chitosanase activities of $70.28{\pm}3.34$ IU/gfs and $60.18{\pm}3.82$ to $64.20{\pm}4.12$ IU/gfs, respectively, were achieved. Moreover, the enzyme was stable and retained 92-94% activity even after one month. Cellulase enzyme extract obtained from A. niger with chitinolytic and chitosanolytic activities could be potentially used for making low-molecular-weight chitin and chitosan oligomers, having promising applications in biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, food, and agricultural industries, and in biocontrol formulations.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.369-374
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• 1997

An endochitosanase-producing bacterium was isolated from soil and identified as a strain of Bacillus sp. The isolate was gram positive, rod shape $(0.4-0.6{\times}1.6-2.2{\mu}m)$, endospore-forming, catalase positive, and mobility positive, and grown at pH 4.5-11.0 and upto $42^{\circ}C$ in the medium containing 2% NaCl. RAPD analysis of the DNA purified from the strain was also performed, and the chitosanase-producing strain was named as Bacillus sp. P16. The culture supernatant of the strain showed strong liquefaction activity and rapidly decreased viscosity of chitosan solution. By TLC and HPLC, chitooligosaccharides of DP 2-7 were separated and identified from the enzyme hydrolyzates of chitosan. The chitosanase from Bacillus sp. P16 was thus regarded as an endo-splitting type.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2001

It is possible ot prepare protoplasts of the zygomycete fungus, Phycomyces blakesleeanus, by digesting the cell wall of spore germlings with commercially available chitinase and chitosanase. However, the cells without any cell walls immediately form large aggregates, and thus, it is difficult to isolate the individually separated protoplasts. Inherent problem with the formation of aggregates in preparing protoplasts could be solved by the use of bovine serum albumin (BSA). As a result, we were able to prepare a large number of single protoplsts quickly and easily. We took time-lapse photomicrographs of the formation of protoplasts, and found that there were certain regions of the cell wall of spore germlings that were sensitive to chitinase and chitosanase, although the cell wall of the original spores is known to be insensitive to these enzymes. There are two kinds of cell walls on a spore germling; one with a bound wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and the other a bound concanavalin A (ConA). Furthermore, only cells with walls which had bound WGA were able to regenerate, while those with walls with bound ConA were not able to regenerate.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 1996

Chitosanase from Bacillus sp. HW-002 was purified with CM-cellulose column chromatography, and HPLC with DEAE- TSK gel and YMC-pack Diol 120. The purified enzyme appeared as a single band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be about 46 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel, and was estimated to be about 23 kDa by GFC. The optimal pH of chitosanolytic activity was about pH 5.5-6.0, and the purified enzyme was most stable at pH 5.0. The optimal temperature of chitosanolytic activity was $65^{\circ}C$ and the enzyme was stable at $45^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. Chitosan was the most favorable substrate among various $\beta$-glucan. UVmax of the purified enzyme was 195 nmand was not noted around 280 nm. The main product of enzyme reaction with chitosan was chitobiose.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.178.2-178.2
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• 2001

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.437-443
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• 2003

Chitooligosaccharides were prepared by enzymatic hydrolyzing of crab shell chitosan. Low molecular weight chitooligosaccharides(LMW-chitooligosaccharides), 64.3% of which was composed of trimer, tetramer, and pentamer, was obtained by hydrolyzing chitosan with the chitosanase originated Bacillus pumilus BN-262. High molecular weight chitooligosaccharides(HMW-chitooligosaccharides), 49.3% of which was composed of chitooligosaccharides over heptamer, was obtained by hydrolyzing chitosan with the cellulase originated Trichoderma viride. Acute oral toxicity of chitooligosaccharides were tested in mice. Chitooligosaccharides did not have any toxic effect in mice and oral LD$\_$50/ value of chitooligosaccharides was over 5.0g/kg in mice.