Situation of Chitinase Research and Developmental Prospects

摘要

Chitin, next to cellulose, is one of the most abundant bioplymers found in nature. It is a β-1,4 polymer of N-acetylglucosamine (GLcNAc), Chitin is the main structural material in the cell walls of most groups of fungi and in the exoskeletions of many insects and crustaceans. There are about 100 millions ton of chitin formed in one year on earth. With special physico-chemical and physiological properties, chitin, chitooligosaccharides and its derivatives have been proved very important for regulating the functions of human body. Chitin can be degraded into N-acetylglucosamine by chitinase (EC3. 2. 1.14) endolytically or exolytically .Chitinase are produced by a wide range of organisms:bacteria, plants and animals. Bacterial chitinases play an important role in the digestion and recycling of chitin in nature. Recently, scientists focus on increasing the yield and activity of chitinase by genetic engineering and cloning of microorganisms and plants.Many microbial chitinase genes have been cloned and sequenced. Transgenic plants with chitinase gene proved to be effective biocontrol agents against pathogen of plants and resistance to nematode and insects. This paper described the characterization of microbial chitinase and cloning of chitinase genes. The application of chitinase into the defense against pathogens of plants.the effects of chitinase and its derivatives on human health and developmental prospects were also discussed.