Chitinase and Chitin Synthase Activity in Fungi

Dear Colleagues,

Chitin is a homolpolymer of N-acetylglucosamine units joined by b1,4-linkages. It is the second most abundant biopolymer in nature after cellulose. Chitin, an insoluble polymer, represents the structural component of exoskeleton of insects and crustacean and the fungal cell wall. Chitin synthase, a usually zymogenic enzyme, is involved in its synthesis while degradation of chitin oligomers depends on chitinase which, in addition of this function, it is important in a number of biological and biotechnological processes such as agriculture and pharmaceutical industry. Early in 1970-1980, the cell location and the mechanism of synthesis of fungal chitin was a matter of a strong debate. On one side, some scholars  proposed the cell membrane as the required and timely synthesis of chitin while others discovered some microvesicles known as chitosomes  that carry all components to the fungal tip  to form chitin. Chitin microfibrils were formed by chitosomes in vitro for the first time regardless of the presence of the cell or its membranes. As research advanced, several forms or isoforms of chitin synthase and genes were unveiled in different fungi showing somewhat distinct properties and functions. The purpose of this SI is to update the state of the art of fungal chitin synthesis and degradation.

Prof. Dr. Everardo López-Romero
Dr. J. Felix Gutiérrez Corona
Guest Editors

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