Open AccessAddition of substrate‐binding domains increases substrate‐binding capacity and specific activity of a chitinase from Trichoderma harzianum
Author(s) -
Limón M.Carmen,
MargollesClark Emilio,
Benı́tez Tahı́a,
Penttilä Merja
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2001.tb10619.x
Subject(s) - chitinase , chitin , trichoderma reesei , trichoderma harzianum , substrate (aquarium) , nicotiana tabacum , microbiology and biotechnology , fungus , cell wall , trichoderma , biochemistry , chemistry , cellulose , biology , enzyme , biological pest control , botany , cellulase , chitosan , ecology , gene
Chitinase Chit42 from Trichoderma harzianum CECT 2413 is considered to play an important role in the biocontrol activity of this fungus against plant pathogens. Chit42 lacks a chitin‐binding domain (ChBD). We have produced hybrid chitinases with stronger chitin‐binding capacity by fusing to Chit42 a ChBD from Nicotiana tabacum ChiA chitinase and the cellulose‐binding domain from cellobiohydrolase II of Trichoderma reesei . The chimeric chitinases had similar activities towards soluble substrate but higher hydrolytic activity than the native chitinase on high molecular mass insoluble substrates such as ground chitin or chitin‐rich fungal cell walls.