Characteristics of chitosanases from Aspergillus fumigatus KB-1.

Two chitosanases produced by Aspergillus fumigatus KB-1 were purified by ion exchange and size exclusion chromatographies. Molecular weights of chitosanases were 111.23 kDa (chitosanase I) and 23.38 kDa (chitosanase II). The N-terminal amino acid sequence of chitosanase II was determined as follows: YNLPNNLKQIYDKHKGKXSXVLAKGFTN. The optimum pH of the chitosanase I and II was 6.5 and 5.5, respectively. The optimum temperatures were 60 degrees C for chitosanase land 70 degrees C for chitosanase II. Hydrolysis products of two chitosanases were analyzed by HPLC and GPC. Chitosanase I hydrolyzed substrate to glucosamine. Chitosanase II produced chitooligosaccharides.