A gene encoding deacetylase DA1 that is specific for N, N'-diacetylchitobio
se was cloned using the shot-gun method with pUC118 and sequenced. The open
reading frame encoded a protein of 427 amino acids including the signal pe
ptide. The molecular mass of the mature enzyme estimated from the amino aci
d sequence data was 44.7 kDa, which is approximately similar to that, estim
ated by SDS-PAGE (48.0 kDa), of the purified enzyme reported previously. Th
e N-terminal amino acid sequence deduced from the cloned deacetylase gene s
howed partial sequence homology with the Nod B protein from Rhizobium sp. (
37% identity) and chitin deacetylase from Mucor rouxii (28%). It contained
a domain, which showed homology with a chitin-binding domain of chitinase A
from Bacillus circulans (39%).