Intergeneric fusant development using chitinase preparation of Rhizopus stolonifer NCIM 880

An overview of fungal chitinases and their potential applications

Chitin, the world's second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose, is composed of β-1,4-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues. It is the key structural component of many organisms, including crustaceans, mollusks, marine invertebrates, algae, fungi, insects, and nematodes. There has been a significant increase in the generation of chitinous waste from seafood businesses, resulting in a big amount of scrap. Although several organisms, such as plants, crustaceans, insects, nematodes, and animals, produce chitinases, microorganisms are promising candidates and a sustainable option that mediates chitin degradation. Fungi are the dominant group of chitinase producers among microorganisms. In fungi, chitinases are involved in morphogenesis, cell division, autolysis, chitin acquisition for nutritional purposes, and mycoparasitism. Many efficient chitinolytic fungi with potential applications have been identified in a variety of environments, including soil, water, marine wastes, and plants. The current review highlights the key sources of chitinolytic fungi and the characterization of fungal chitinases. It also discusses the applications of fungal chitinases and the cloning of fungal chitinase genes.

Microbial chitinases and their relevance in various industries

Chitin, the second most abundant biopolymer on earth after cellulose, is composed of β-1,4-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) units. It is widely distributed in nature, especially as a structural polysaccharide in the cell walls of fungi, the exoskeletons of crustaceans, insects, and nematodes. However, the principal commercial source of chitin is the shells of marine or freshwater invertebrates. Microbial chitinases are largely responsible for chitin breakdown in nature, and they play an important role in the ecosystem's carbon and nitrogen balance. Several microbial chitinases have been characterized and are gaining prominence for their applications in various sectors. The current review focuses on chitinases of microbial origin, their diversity, and their characteristics. The applications of chitinases in several industries such as agriculture, food, the environment, and pharmaceutical sectors are also highlighted.

Statistical, physicochemical, and thermodynamic profiles of chitinase production from local agro-industrial wastes employing the honey isolate Aspergillus niger EM77

Enzyme synthesis from local wastes has a lot of potential because it eliminates the problem of waste accumulating in conjugation while also cutting the cost of these useful products. Plackett-Burman (PBD) and central composite designs (CCD) were used to optimize the manufacturing process utilizing the honey isolate Aspergillus niger EM77, resulting in a 60-fold increase in enzyme productivity using a group of wastes comprising wheat, rice straw, and sawdust. The enzyme had its optimum activity at 60 °C, pH 5, and had high thermo-stability at 60 °C, with K_m and V_max of 0.8 mg mL⁻¹ and 2083.33 μmol mL⁻¹ min⁻¹ respectively. The activation (E_a) and deactivation (E_d) energies of chitinase were 2.78 and 174.46 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, with the thermodynamic constants ΔH° and ΔG° ensuring enzyme stability. As a result, Aspergillus niger EM77 chitinase has the efficiency to meet the global market demand for chitinase enzyme while also providing a significantly lower price than what is now available on the websites of specialist international companies. The production process is almost costless because it is based primarily on waste and contains traces of minerals.