Johns Hopkins University

Bonnie Bassler

Charles Y Yu

Saul Roseman

Edith Chitlaru

Nemat O Keyhani

Chris Rowe

Three genes involved in the catabolism of chitin in Vibrio furnissii: endI encodes periplasmic chitodextrinase, exoI encodes periplasmic .beta.-N-acetylglucosaminidase, and exoII encodes aryl .beta.-N-acetylglucosaminidase are provided. The complete nucleotide sequence for each of the three genes and the complete amino acid for the corresponding enzymes are demonstrated along with host cells capable of expressing the recombinant enzymes. The present invention also describes four specific strains of V. furnissii having deletions in genes involved in the catabolic pathway of chitin and a process for the production of chitin oligosaccharides.

Bacterial catabolism of chitin

The present invention reveals the cloning of four genes involved in the catabolism of chitin in Vibrio furnissii: endI encodes periplasmic chitodextrinase, exoI encodes periplasmic .beta.-N-acetylglucosaminidase, exoII encodes aryl .beta.-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and chiA encodes extracellular chitinase. The complete nucleotide sequence for each of the four genes and the complete amino acid for the corresponding enzymes are demonstrated along with host cells capable of expressing the recombinant enzymes. The present invention also describes four specific strains of V. furnissii having deletions in genes involved in the catabolic pathway of chitin and a process for the production of chitin oligosaccharides.

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Princeton, NJ, United States of America

Bonnie Bassler