Isolation and characterization of two chitin synthase genes of Rhizopus oligosporus.

Two chitin synthase genes (chs1 and chs2) were isolated from Rhizopus oligosporus by plaque hybridization probed with the chitin synthase 2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. From their deduced amino acid sequences, they were both class II chitin synthases according to the classification proposed by Bowen et al. The expression of these genes was controlled differently in each stage of differentiation. It was suggested that the gene products of chs1 and chs2 function mainly in the hyphae growing stage but not in the late stage of spore formation. When each of these genes was expressed in S. cerevisiae, elevation of chitin synthase activity was observed in both cases.