Effects of exogenous N-acetylhexosaminidase on the structure and mineralization of the post-ecdysial exoskeleton of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus.

A cuticular glycosidase with characteristics of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase (HexNAcase) was identified in post-ecdysial crab cuticle. Its appearance coincided with changes in cuticular glycoproteins and the onset of mineralization. To test if HexNAcase might be the causative agent in the alteration of the glycans and initiation of calcification, newly molted crab cuticle was treated with exogenous HexNAcase. Treating cuticular extracts from crabs at 0 h post-ecdysis with exogenous HexNAcase mimicked those changes observed in vivo. Specifically, the enzyme decreased the concanavalin A affinity of an 83-kDa glycoprotein that binds to calcite crystals in vitro. Treating pieces of 0 h post-ecdysial cuticle with HexNAcase rendered them capable of nucleating calcite in vitro (similar to 5 h post-ecdysial cuticle), while untreated, 0 h controls remained uncalcified. The data imply a role of the cuticular HexNAcase-like enzyme in the initiation of calcite nucleation in the newly formed exoskeleton.