Abstract

GOMES, Laidson Paes et al. Purification and characterization of grape (Vitis vinífera L. cv Red Globe) chitinases for production of chitosan from shrimp chitin. Quím. Nova [online]. 2010, vol.33, n.9, pp. 1882-1886. ISSN 0100-4042.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-40422010000900012.

Chitinase is produced by a wide variety of plants as a defense against peste attacks. In this study, grape chitinases were purified 16 times by fractionation in 80% ammonium sulfate followed by dialysis and filtration. Purified chitinases exhibited enzymatic activity toward chitin azure. The yield of purified chitinase was 229 mg/L with chitinase activity of 563 U/g. Chitinases had molecular masses of 24 and 30 kDa, as evaluated by SDS-PAGE 12.5%. Two pH optima were determined 3.0 and 6.0. The optimal temperature was 42 ^°C. Pre hydrolysis of crystalline shrimp chitin by chitinases caused in an increase in the deacetylation ratio triggered by chitin deacetylase producing chitooligosaccharides with DA (degree acetylation) of 58.8%.

Keywords : grape chitinases; purification and characterization; chitin deacetylation.