Chitinase Induction in an Estuarine System

  • Richard A. Smucker
  • Chi K. Kim
Chapter
Part of the Biodeterioration Research book series (BIOR, volume 1)

Abstract

Chitinase induction in marine sediments has not been previously documented. This is surprising since the ubiquitous presence of chitin ( 3-1-4-linked N-acetyl-D-gucosamine (GlcNAc)) is well recognized. Muzzarelli (1977) has review ed the general features of chitin occurrence. Chitin biodeterioration has often been associated with bacterial activities (Benecke, 1905; Reynolds, 1954; Seki and Taga, 1963; Goodrich and Morita, 1977; Bennett and Hood, 1980; Williams and Robinson, 1981; Lindsay and Gooday, 1985), but vertebrates and inverte brates also produce chitinases. Gadus morhua (cod) produces constituitive chitinase independent of bacterial populations (Lindsay and Gooday, 1985). Crassostrea virginica Gmelin (American oyster) also produces constituitive chitinases even under chloramphenicol ’therapy1, a situation in which chitinolytic bacteria are absent in the crystalline style (Mayasich and Smucker, in press). Chrysaora quinquecirrha (sea nettle ) is a prolific producer of chitinases (Smucker, 1982). By virtue of their feeding and depuration activities these higher order organisms could conceivably also contribute to extracellular chitinase pools. High molecular weight molecules such as chitin are usually digested by extracellular enzymes. Aholistic appraisal of extracellular digestion activities in the estuary, or in any environment, may be reflected in measurements of extant enzyme activities (Skujins, 1978).

Keywords

Blue Crab Chitinase Activity Crassostrea Virginica American Oyster Crystalline Style 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Plenum Press, New York 1987

Authors and Affiliations

  • Richard A. Smucker
    • 1
  • Chi K. Kim
    • 2
  1. 1.Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Center for Environmental and Estuarine StudiesThe University of MarylandSolomonsUSA
  2. 2.Chung Buk National University,College of Natural SciencesSouth Korea

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