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Distribution of chitinase and chitobiase in bacillus

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Abstract

Sixty strains representing 29 taxospecies ofBacillus were assayed for their ability to hydrolyze colloidal chitin. A qualitative estimation of chitinolysis was made from the clear zone produced around colonies in the conventional agar plate method and chitobiase activity by use of the fluorescence of 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminide.

Strains positive in the chitin-agar plate method were assayed for production of reducing sugar in liquid culture. Seventeen of 52 strains representing 10 species ofBacillus were chitinolytic. The most chitinolytic species ofBacillus were:B. chitinosporus, B. pulvifaciens, B. alvei, B. Macerans, andB. licheniformis. Seventy-eight percent ofBacillus isolates from chitinenriched soil (AU Y91B1, AU-X (unidentified), and AU B2−B8) were chitinolytic. Twenty-three strains representing 15 species gave a positive test for chitobiase. Many strains negative for endochitinase gave a strong positive reaction (4+) for chitobiase.

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  1. Department of Botany and Microbiology, Auburn University Agriculture Experiment Station, 36830, Auburn, Alabama, USA

    R. M. Cody

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Cody, R.M. Distribution of chitinase and chitobiase in bacillus. Current Microbiology 19, 201–205 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570162

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