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PMID: 3662513 Published · ppublish English Comparative Study Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

A rapid test for chitinase activity that uses 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide.

Applied and environmental microbiology ·Vol. 53 ·No. 7 ·1987-07-00 ·Pages 1718-20

O'Brien M, Colwell RR

Abstract

A total of 101 strains of bacteria from environmental and clinical sources, most of which were gram negative, were tested for chitobiase activity by using a filter paper spot test with 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide as the substrate. The results were compared with those obtained by a conventional plate method for chitinase activity by using colloidal chitin as the substrate. There was excellent agreement in the results for both methods. The filter paper spot test with 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide has the advantages of being rapid, simple to perform, and inexpensive. This method should be adaptable to a wider range of microorganisms, particularly those with unusual growth requirements.

MeSH Terms

Acetylglucosamine/analogs & derivatives Acetylglucosaminidase/metabolism Bacteria/enzymology Chitinases/metabolism Culture Media Disaccharides Glucans/metabolism Glucosamine/analogs & derivatives,metabolism Hymecromone/analogs & derivatives,metabolism Umbelliferones/metabolism

Chemicals

Culture Media Disaccharides Glucans Umbelliferones 4-methylumbelliferyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside Hymecromone chitobiose Chitinases Acetylglucosaminidase Glucosamine Acetylglucosamine

Authors & Affiliations

2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID

O'Brien M

Department of Microbiology, University of Maryland, College Park 20742.

Colwell R R

References (12)

12 references, click to expand

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Article Info

Journal

Applied and environmental microbiology

Abbr.

Appl Environ Microbiol

ISSN

0099-2240

DOI

10.1128/aem.53.7.1718-1720.1987

Published

1987-07-00

Pages

1718-20

Language

English

Region

United States

NLM ID

7605801

PMCID

PMC203942

Subset

Grants

NIAID NIH HHS · R22-AI-14242 · United States

External Links

PubMed source DOI: 10.1128/aem.53.7.1718-1720.1987 PMC Full Text View journal details

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A rapid test for chitinase activity that uses 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide.

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