{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Three-Step Enzymatic Remodeling of Chitin into Bioactive Chitooligomers.
{Author}: Mészáros Z;Kulik N;Petrásková L;Bojarová P;Texidó M;Planas A;Křen V;Slámová K;
{Journal}: J Agric Food Chem
{Volume}: 72
{Issue}: 28
{Year}: 2024 Jul 17
{Factor}: 5.895
{DOI}: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c03077
{Abstract}: Here we describe a complex enzymatic approach to the efficient transformation of abundant waste chitin, a byproduct of the food industry, into valuable chitooligomers with a degree of polymerization (DP) ranging from 6 to 11. This method involves a three-step process: initial hydrolysis of chitin using engineered variants of a novel fungal chitinase from Talaromyces flavus to generate low-DP chitooligomers, followed by an extension to the desired DP using the high-yielding Y445N variant of β-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Aspergillus oryzae, achieving yields of up to 57%. Subsequently, enzymatic deacetylation of chitooligomers with DP 6 and 7 was accomplished using peptidoglycan deacetylase from Bacillus subtilis BsPdaC. The innovative enzymatic procedure demonstrates a sustainable and feasible route for converting waste chitin into unavailable bioactive chitooligomers potentially applicable as natural pesticides in ecological and sustainable agriculture.