Gastric and intestinal proteases resistance of chicken acidic chitinase nominates chitin-containing organisms for alternative whole edible diets for poultry.

ABSTRACT: Chitin, a polymer of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), functions as a major structural component in crustaceans, insects and fungi and is the second most abundant polysaccharide in the nature. Although these chitin-containing organisms have been suggested as novel animal feed resources, chitin has long been considered as indigestible fibers in the animal body. Recently, we reported that acidic chitinase (Chia) is a protease-resistant major glycosidase in mouse gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and that it digests chitin in the mouse stomach. However, the physiological role of Chia in other animals including poultry remains unknown. Here, we report that Chia can function as a digestive enzyme that breaks down chitin-containing organisms in chicken GIT. Chia mRNA is predominantly expressed in the

SUBMITTER: Tabata E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5532213 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature