ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 2 CHITIN SYNTHASE GENES OF RHIZOPUS-OLIGOSPORUS

Two chitin synthase genes (chs1 and chs2) were isolated from Rhizopus oligosporus by plaque hybridization probed with the chitin synthase 2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. From their deduced amino acid sequen ces, they were both class II. chitin synthases according to the classi fication proposed by Bowen et al.(1)) The expression of these genes wa s controlled differently in each stage of differentiation. It was sugg ested that the gene products of chs1 and chs2 function mainly in the h yphae growing stage but not in the late stage of spore formation, When each of these genes was expressed in S. cerevisiae, elevation of chit in synthase activity was observed in both cases.