Activity of a Recombinant Chitinase of the <i>Atta sexdens</i> Ant on Different Forms of Chitin and Its Fungicidal Effect against <i>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</i>

oleh: Katia Celina Santos Correa, William Marcondes Facchinatto, Filipe Biagioni Habitzreuter, Gabriel Henrique Ribeiro, Lucas Gomes Rodrigues, Kelli Cristina Micocci, Sérgio Paulo Campana-Filho, Luiz Alberto Colnago, Dulce Helena Ferreira Souza

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2024-02-01

Deskripsi

This study evaluates the activity of a recombinant chitinase from the leaf-cutting ant <i>Atta sexdens</i> (AsChtII-C4B1) against colloidal and solid α- and β-chitin substrates. <sup>1</sup>H NMR analyses of the reaction media showed the formation of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) as the hydrolysis product. Viscometry analyses revealed a reduction in the viscosity of chitin solutions, indicating that the enzyme decreases their molecular masses. Both solid state <sup>13</sup>C NMR and XRD analyses showed minor differences in chitin crystallinity pre- and post-reaction, indicative of partial hydrolysis under the studied conditions, resulting in the formation of GlcNAc and a reduction in molecular mass. However, the enzyme was unable to completely degrade the chitin samples, as they retained most of their solid-state structure. It was also observed that the enzyme acts progressively and with a greater activity on α-chitin than on β-chitin. AsChtII-C4B1 significantly changed the hyphae of the phytopathogenic fungus <i>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</i>, hindering its growth in both solid and liquid media and reducing its dry biomass by approximately 61%. The results demonstrate that AsChtII-C4B1 could be applied as an agent for the bioproduction of chitin derivatives and as a potential antifungal agent.