The enzyme binds to chitin and randomly cleaves glycosidic linkages in chitin and chitodextrins in a non-processive mode, generating chitooligosaccharides and free ends on which exo-chitinases and exo-chitodextrinases can act. Activity is greatly stimulated in the presence of EC 1.14.99.53, lytic chitin monoxygenase, which attacks the crystalline structure of chitin and makes the polymer more accesible to the chitinase. cf. EC 3.2.1.202, endo-chitodextrinase.
chitinase, chitotriosidase, endochitinase, antifreeze protein, chit1, amcase, chitinase a, exochitinase, acidic mammalian chitinase, class i chitinase, more
The enzyme binds to chitin and randomly cleaves glycosidic linkages in chitin and chitodextrins in a non-processive mode, generating chitooligosaccharides and free ends on which exo-chitinases and exo-chitodextrinases can act. Activity is greatly stimulated in the presence of EC 1.14.99.53, lytic chitin monoxygenase, which attacks the crystalline structure of chitin and makes the polymer more accesible to the chitinase. cf. EC 3.2.1.202, endo-chitodextrinase.
chitinase is stored and secreted from the inner body of microfilariae via either the pharyngeal thread, or during transmission of the microfilariae to the vector, contained in vesicle-like structures