Incubation of Aspergillus fumigatus NCPF 2140 in growth medium contain
ing 1% chitin as sole carbon source led to induction of specific extra
cellular chitinolytic activity of 1.5 mu mol GlcNAc released min(-1) (
mg protein)(-1). The effect was repressed by the inclusion of GlcNAc i
n the medium, indicating regulation by a negative feedback mechanism.
Extracellular chitinase activity was inhibited by allosamidin (IC50 0.
12 mu M). Multiple chitinolytic enzymes were detected on zymograms of
extracellular preparations; levels of individual enzymes induced were
dependent upon whether cells were incubated with purified colloidal ch
itin or a crude preparation of crystalline chitin. A major, inducible,
45 kDa chitinase was purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation,
chitin affinity chromatography and a novel procedure involving the ele
ctroelution of the enzyme from a substrate gel containing glycol chiti
n. The enzyme is a glycoprotein with endochitinase activity.