Chitinolytic enzymes: An appraisal as a product of commercial potential

Abstract

Chitin, its deacetylated form, chitosan and chitinolytic enzymes viz. endo-chitinase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, chitosanase, chitin deacetylase (CDA) are gaining importance for their biotechnological applications. Presently, chitin degrading enzymes constitute high-cost low-volume products in human health care and associated research. Indeed chitinases and CDA-chitosanase complex possesss tremendous potential in agriculture to control plant pathogenic fungi and insects. The success in exploring chitinases especially for agriculture, i.e. as a high-volume low-cost product, depends on the availability of highly active preparations with a reasonable cost. Therefore, a reconsideration in terms of understanding the roles of chitinolytic enzymes in applications, e.g. host-pathogen interaction for biocontrol, different mechanisms of chitin degradation, and identification of new enzymes with varying specificities, may make them more useful in a variety of commercial processes in the near future. The possible issues and challenges encountered in the translation of proof of concept into a commercial product will be appraised in this review.

Antifungal Activity of Bacillus Species Against Fusarium and Analysis of the Potential Mechanisms Used in Biocontrol

“…Two distinct mechanisms are known for degrading chitin, a linear polymer of β-1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) residues, which shares structural similarities with cellulose (Beier and Bertilsson, 2013; Chavan and Deshpande, 2013). One mechanism employs endochitinases, also known as 1,4-β-poly-N-acetylglucosaminidases (EC 3.2.1.14).…”

A review of potential methods for zooplankton control in wastewater treatment High Rate Algal Ponds and algal production raceways

“…Chitinases have been proposed as a biopesticide to degrade fungal cell walls [225], and natural chitinolytic enzymes are commercially available. However, their costs are high and their use is limited [226]. A cheaper alternative is provided by substances that interfere with chitinase production and promote the mortality of crustacean zooplankton including diflubenzuron, chitosan and allosamidin [227,228].…”

Effects of gamma radiation on enzymatic production of lignolytic complex by filamentous fungi

“…Filamentous fungi of the genus Aspergillus stand out as excellent producers of secondary metabolites of industrial and environmental interest, since they have a high rate of growth and a large thermotolerance, which favors studies of selection and production of high value-added bioproducts (Berka et al, 1992;Ward et al, 2005;Lotfy et al, 2007;Mata-Gomez et al, 2009;Samson and Varga, 2009;Dhillon et al, 2012;Goswami et al, 2012;Singh and Mukhopadhyay, 2012;Chavan and Deshpande, 2013;Gopinath et al, 2013;Maldonato et al, 2014).…”