Chitinase-Assisted Bioconversion of Chitinous Waste for Development of Value-Added Chito-Oligosaccharides Products

Abstract

Chito-oligosaccharides (COSs) are the partially hydrolyzed products of chitin, which is abundant in the shells of crustaceans, the cuticles of insects, and the cell walls of fungi. These oligosaccharides have received immense interest in the last few decades due to their highly promising bioactivities, such as their anti-microbial, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. Regarding environmental concerns, COSs are obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis by chitinase under milder conditions compared to the typical chemical degradation. This review provides updated information about research on new chitinase derived from various sources, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals, employed for the efficient production of COSs. The route to industrialization of these chitinases and COS products is also described.

Insights into Chitin-Degradation Potential of Shewanella khirikhana JW44 with Emphasis on Characterization and Function of a Chitinase Gene SkChi65

“…In nature, chitin is the principal component of the cell walls of fungi, exoskeletons of insects, and shells of crustaceans and certain mollusks [1,4]. Currently, many methods are used to transform chitin into high-value-added derivatives, including chitosan, chitooligosaccharides (COSs), and GlcNAc, which are of considerable interest in medicine, pharmaceutics, agriculture, and biotechnology [5,6].…”

“…Relative to chemical procedures for chitin degradation, enzymatic methods are more gradual, with higher efficiencies and fewer environmental hazards; thus, developing excellent chitinolytic enzymes has been the focus of numerous studies [6,7]. Chitinases (EC 3.2.1.14) are synthesized by diverse organisms depending on the physiological function of chitin as a substrate for the producers [8,9].…”

“…These well-characterized chitinases are generally active against colloidal chitin, a type of chitin comprised of amorphous and relatively crystalline parts. In nature, chitin is organized in highly insoluble crystalline arrangements; therefore, chitinase, which can efficiently hydrolyze crystalline chitin, has a better application potential in preparing COSs [1,[3][4][5][6]. So far, a few crude enzymes produced by wild strains and some recombinant chitinases have been reported to directly degrade crystalline chitin [14,[25][26][27].…”

Recent Development of Functional Chitosan-Based Hydrogels for Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Applications

“…Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed β-(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units. It is produced by the deacetylation reaction of chitin, which is found in the skeletal structure of crustaceans, insects, mushrooms, and the cell wall of fungi [ 7 ]. Chitosan is a versatile natural polymer containing plenty of amino groups, making it hydrophilic, cationic, and reactive, facilitating functional modification, biomolecule encapsulation, muco-adhesiveness [ 8 , 9 ], and adjuvanticity [ 10 ].…”

Correction: Taokaew, S.; Kriangkrai, W. Chitinase-Assisted Bioconversion of Chitinous Waste for Development of Value-Added Chito-Oligosaccharides Products. Biology 2023, 12, 87

“…In the original publication [ 1 ], there was a mistake in the published reference [3], which was as follows:…”