Differences in the chitinolytic activity of mammalian chitinases on soluble and insoluble substrates.

ABSTRACT: Chitin is an abundant polysaccharide used by many organisms for structural rigidity and water repulsion. As such, the insoluble crystalline structure of chitin poses significant challenges for enzymatic degradation. Acidic mammalian chitinase, a processive glycosyl hydrolase, is the primary enzyme involved in the degradation of environmental chitin in mammalian lungs. Mutations to acidic mammalian chitinase have been associated with asthma, and genetic deletion in mice increases morbidity and mortality with age. We initially set out to reverse this phenotype by engineering hyperactive acidic mammalian chitinase variants. Using a screening approach with commercial fluorogenic substrates, we identified mutations with consistent increases in activity. To determine whether the activity increas

SUBMITTER: Barad BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7096708 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature