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Chitin/Chitosan-Active Enzymes Involved in Plant–Microbe Interactions

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Targeting Chitin-containing Organisms

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1142))

Abstract

Plant chitinase hydrolyzing β-1,4-glycosidic linkages of chitin are major enzymes acting in plant–microbe interactions and are involved in self-defense against fungal pathogens. Chitosanases from soil bacteria are also involved in plant defense by hydrolyzing chitosan components of the fungal cell wall. The crystal structures of these enzymes in complex with their substrates have been solved, and the mechanisms of substrate binding were elucidated at the atomic level. These findings enabled us to speculate on the enzyme targets under physiological conditions, leading us to define the physiological roles of the enzymes. The structures and functions of chitin/chitosan-binding modules appended to modular chitinases/chitosanases were analyzed by NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and the enzymes were found to form an appropriate modular organization to fulfill their roles in plant–microbe interactions.

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Abbreviations

GlcNAc:

2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose

(GlcNAc)n:

β-1,4-linked oligosaccharide of GlcNAc with a polymerization degree of n

GlcN:

2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose

(GlcN)n:

β-1,4-linked oligosaccharide of GlcN with a polymerization degree of n

ITC:

isothermal titration calorimetry

NMR:

nuclear magnetic resonance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemistry-Electrochemistry Research Unit, School of Chemistry, Suranaree University of Technology, 111, University Avenue, Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand

    Tamo Fukamizo

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Institute of Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita-Shi, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    S. Shinya

Authors
  1. Tamo Fukamizo
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  2. S. Shinya
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Correspondence to Tamo Fukamizo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. State Laboratory of Biology for Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection at Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China

    Qing Yang

  2. Biochemistry−Electrochemistry Research Unit, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

    Tamo Fukamizo

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Fukamizo, T., Shinya, S. (2019). Chitin/Chitosan-Active Enzymes Involved in Plant–Microbe Interactions. In: Yang, Q., Fukamizo, T. (eds) Targeting Chitin-containing Organisms. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1142. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7318-3_12

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