Purification, crystallization and preliminary X‐ray crystallographic analysis of chitinase from Bacillus cereus NCTU2

Chitinases (EC 3.2.1.14) are found in a broad range of organisms, including bacteria, fungi and higher plants, and play different roles depending on their origin. A chitinase from Bacillus cereus NCTU2 (ChiNCTU2) capable of hydrolyzing chitin as a carbon and nitrogen nutrient has been identified as a member of the family 18 glycoside hydrolases. ChiNCTU2 of molecular weight 36 kDa has been crystallized using the hanging‐drop vapour‐diffusion method. According to the diffraction of chitinase crystals at 1.10 Å resolution, the crystal belongs to space group P 2 1 , with unit‐cell parameters a = 50.79, b = 48.79, c  = 66.87 Å, β = 99.31°. Preliminary analysis indicates there is one chitinase molecule in the asymmetric unit, with a solvent content of 43.4%.