RESEARCH Purification of Chitinase e l a

Full list of author information is available at the end of the articleBackground Chitin ((1,4)-2-acetamide-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucan) is a polysaccharide created by beta,1-4 bonding of N-acetyl glucosamine residues. Functional properties and physio-logical activities of chitin oligomers depend on molecu-lar weight and chain length mostly [1]. Although most of the natural polysaccharides are either neutral or acidic, chitin is basic [2,3]. Chitin is the main component of most insects ’ cuticles and peritrophic membranes that protect intestines of insects. Pathogenic bacteria that infect intestines are re-quired to pass this chitin-rich barrier first [4-6]. At the same time, chitin is present in tracheal tubes of insects, on their upper skin and muscles along with protein and other components [7]. Chitin is hydrolyzed by two types of enzymes, namely chitinase (E.C. 3.2.1.14) and beta-N-acetyl hexosamini-dase (E.C. 3.2.1.52) [8]. Bacterial chitinase enzymes have been implicated in protection against parasites in fungi, protozoa and in