AFFINITY PURIFICATION OF MAJOR CHITINASES PRODUCED BY STREPTOMYCES-KURSSANOVII

A highly O-cross-linked chitin-based sorbent resistant toward digestio n by the extracellular chitinolytic complex of Streptomyces kurssanovi i was prepared by means of cross-linking of N-acetylchitosan with 2,3- epoxypropyl chloride. Not less than four stages of cross-linking were required for the matrix to be fully resistant toward the action of chi tinolytic enzymes. The sorbent was shown to be specific for two major endochitinases which were isolated in homogeneous forms quantitatively . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.