Evolutionary and biochemical differences between human and monkey acidic mammalian chitinases

Krykbaev, Rustem; Fitz, Lori; Reddy, Padmalatha S.; Winkler, Aaron; Xuan, Dejun; Yang, Xiaoke; Fleming, Margaret; Wolf, Stanley F.

doi:10.1016/j.gene.2009.12.005

Cited by 23 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(51 reference statements)

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“…Chitin can be digested only with chitinase and acidic mammalian chitinase ( AMCase ); AMCase is widely found in the digestive organs of animals (Eurich et al, 2009; Krykbaev et al, 2010; Strobel et al, 2013). The origin of the digestive processes might be closely related to the activity of AMCase , which determines the beginning of chitin.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptomic analysis identifies genes and pathways related to myrmecophagy in the Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica)

Ma¹,

Li²,

Jiang³

et al. 2017

PeerJ

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The Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) is an unusual, scale-covered, toothless mammal that specializes in myrmecophagy. Due to their threatened status and continuing decline in the wild, concerted efforts have been made to conserve and rescue this species in captivity in China. Maintaining this species in captivity is a significant challenge, partly because little is known of the molecular mechanisms of its digestive system. Here, the first large-scale sequencing analyses of the salivary gland, liver and small intestine transcriptomes of an adult M. javanica genome were performed, and the results were compared with published liver transcriptome profiles for a pregnant M. javanica female. A total of 24,452 transcripts were obtained, among which 22,538 were annotated on the basis of seven databases. In addition, 3,373 new genes were predicted, of which 1,459 were annotated. Several pathways were found to be involved in myrmecophagy, including olfactory transduction, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, lipid metabolism, and terpenoid and polyketide metabolism pathways. Many of the annotated transcripts were involved in digestive functions: 997 transcripts were related to sensory perception, 129 were related to digestive enzyme gene families, and 199 were related to molecular transporters. One transcript for an acidic mammalian chitinase was found in the annotated data, and this might be closely related to the unique digestive function of pangolins. These pathways and transcripts are involved in specialization processes related to myrmecophagy (a form of insectivory) and carbohydrate, protein and lipid digestive pathways, probably reflecting adaptations to myrmecophagy. Our study is the first to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying myrmecophagy in M. javanica, and we hope that our results may play a role in the conservation of this species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptomic analysis identifies genes and pathways related to myrmecophagy in the Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica)

Ma¹,

Li²,

Jiang³

et al. 2017

PeerJ

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“…Chitotriosidase is mainly secreted by phagocytes and acts against chitin-containing pathogens [15]. AMCase has so far only been identified in mice (Mus musculus), macaques (Macaca fascicularis) and humans [16], [17]. It is highly expressed in the stomach and lung, indicating a dual digestive and immunological function [16], [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…AMCase has so far only been identified in mice (Mus musculus), macaques (Macaca fascicularis) and humans [16], [17]. It is highly expressed in the stomach and lung, indicating a dual digestive and immunological function [16], [17]. Chitinolytic activity can also originate from endogenous enzymes, ingested food present in the GI tract, or enzymes produced by microorganisms [18], [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insectivorous Bats Digest Chitin in the Stomach Using Acidic Mammalian Chitinase

et al. 2013

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The gastrointestinal tract of animals is adapted to their primary source of food to optimize resource use and energy intake. Temperate bat species mainly feed on arthropods. These contain the energy-rich carbohydrate chitin, which is indigestible for the endogenous enzymes of a typical mammalian gastrointestinal tract. However, the gastrointestinal tract of bat species should be adapted to their diet and be able to digest chitin. We hypothesized that (i) European vespertilionid bat species have the digestive enzyme chitinase and that (ii) the chitinolytic activity is located in the intestine, as has been found for North American bat species. The gastrointestinal tracts of seven bat species (Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Plecotus auritus, Myotis bechsteinii, Myotis nattereri, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis myotis, and Nyctalus leisleri) were tested for chitinolytic activity by diffusion assay. Gastrointestinal tracts of P. pipistrellus, P. auritus, M. nattereri, M. myotis, and N. leisleri were examined for acidic mammalian chitinase by western blot analysis. Tissue sections of the gastrointestinal tract of P. pipistrellus were immunohistochemically analyzed to locate the acidic mammalian chitinase. Chitinolytic activity was detected in the stomachs of all bat species. Western blot analysis confirmed the acidic mammalian chitinase in stomach samples. Immunohistochemistry of the P. pipistrellus gastrointestinal tract indicated that acidic mammalian chitinase is located in the stomach chief cells at the base of the gastric glands. In conclusion, European vespertilionid bat species have acidic mammalian chitinase that is produced in the gastric glands of the stomach. Therefore, the gastrointestinal tracts of insectivorous bat species evolved an enzymatic adaptation to their diet.

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“…Chitotriosidase can cut both chitin oligomer and colloidal chitin; its optimum pH is broad, and it is mainly secreted from macrophages [56]. AMCase is active in acidic pH, it is mostly expressed in stomach and lung, its gene has 11 exons and is located on chromosome 1 [57]. Interestingly, Glyco_18-containing proteins are established biomarkers for human diseases, and both human chitinases and chitinase-like proteins have been used as indicators of inflammation and cancer [58].…”

Section: Chitinolytic Enzymesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chitin Research Revisited

2010

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Two centuries after the discovery of chitin, it is widely accepted that this biopolymer is an important biomaterial in many aspects. Numerous studies on chitin have focused on its biomedical applications. In this review, various aspects of chitin research including sources, structure, biosynthesis, chitinolytic enzyme, chitin binding protein, genetic engineering approach to produce chitin, chitin and evolution, and a wide range of applications in bio- and nanotechnology will be dealt with.

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Evolutionary and biochemical differences between human and monkey acidic mammalian chitinases

Cited by 23 publications

References 32 publications

Transcriptomic analysis identifies genes and pathways related to myrmecophagy in the Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica)

Transcriptomic analysis identifies genes and pathways related to myrmecophagy in the Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica)

Insectivorous Bats Digest Chitin in the Stomach Using Acidic Mammalian Chitinase

Chitin Research Revisited

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