Chitosan has a unique chemical structure with high charge density, reactive hydroxyl and amino groups, and extensive hydrogen bonding. Chitin deacetylase (EC 3.5.1.41) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the N-acetamido groups of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in chitin, converting it to chitosan and releasing acetate. The entire ORF of the CDA2 gene encoding one of the two isoforms of chitin deacetyl...

BACKGROUND The infectious and diagnostic form of Entamoeba histolytica (Eh), cause of amebic dysentery and liver abscess, is the quadranucleate cyst. The cyst wall of Entamoeba invadens (Ei), a model for Eh, is composed of chitin fibrils and three sets of chitin-binding lectins that cross-link chitin fibrils (multivalent Jacob lectins), self-aggregate (Jessie lectins), and remodel chitin (chiti...

Organ and tissue formation requires a finely tuned temporal and spatial regulation of differentiation programmes. This is necessary to balance sufficient plasticity to undergo morphogenesis with the acquisition of the mature traits needed for physiological activity. Here we addressed this issue by analysing the deposition of the chitinous extracellular matrix of Drosophila, an essential element...

The gut of most insects is lined with a peritrophic matrix that facilitates the digestive process and protects insects from invasion by micro-organisms and parasites. It is widely accepted that the matrix is composed of chitin, proteins and proteoglycans. Here we critically re-examine the chitin content of the typical type 2 peritrophic matrix from the larvae of the fly Lucilia cuprina using a ...

We report here a draft genome sequence of Aeromonas caviae CHZ306, a marine-derived bacterium with the ability to hydrolyze chitin and express high levels of chitinases. The assembly resulted in 65 scaffolds with approximately 4.78 Mb. Genomic analysis revealed different genes encoding chitin-degrading enzymes that can be used for chitin derivative production.

Population control of the dengue vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is difficult due to many reasons, one being the development of resistance to neurotoxic insecticides employed. The biosynthesis of chitin, a major constituent of insect cuticle, is a novel target for population control. Novaluron is a benzoylphenylurea (BPU) that acts as a chitin synthesis inhibitor, already used against mosquitoe...

Glycosyltransferases are enzymes that synthesize oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and glycoconjugates. One type of glycosyltransferase is chitin synthase, a very important enzyme in biology, which is utilized by insects, fungi, and other invertebrates to produce chitin, a polysaccharide of beta-1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine. Chitin is an important component of the insect's exoskeletal cuticle...

Removal of toxic heavy metals from wastewater is an important environmental challenge. In this Study, Zn (II) removal from aqueous solution by chitin extraction from crustaceous shells (shrimp and crab) was investigated. The biosorption studies were determined as a function of contact time, pH, initial metal concentration, and the amount of adsorbent. Adsorption of Zn (II) increased with decrea...