[Chitinase formation by actinomycetes in deep cultures].

Actinomycetes were cultivated in the medium containing demineralized crab shells as a source of carbon. Chitinase was found in filtrates of the cultural broth of all 44 studied strains. The activity of the extracellular chitinase was determined both by decomposition of ground chitin (CHI-activity) and colloid chitin (CHI-activity). The ratio between CHI and CHX in filtrates of the cultural broth of the most active nine strains varied from one to two.