ABSTRACT
Chitin occurs widely in nature as a structural polymer in the integument of insects and crustaceans and the cell wall of true fungi. Due to the insoluble nature of chitin, its isolation frequently requires use of drastic chemical treatments to remove the contaminants. Chitosan, a non-crystalline fully deacetylated derivative of chitin, occurs in the walls of a limited but medically important group of fungi, the Zygomycetes. Chitinases are constitutively present in plants, seeds, stems, tubers and flowers, which are tissue-specific as well as developmentally regulated. The microorganisms able to degrade chitin are widely distributed in nature. Chitinase are classified in two different ways, on their two innate properties, first, their mode of action on chitin and second, their amino acid sequence. A number of naturally occurring organisms serve as a major source of chitinolytic enzymes but genetic improvement plays a significant role in their biotechnological applications. Chitinases play an important role in filamentous fungi, yeast and insect morphogenesis.
