Identification and evaluation of CAZyme genes, along with functional characterization of a new GH46 chitosanase from Streptomyces sp. KCCM12257.

The genomic analysis of Streptomyces sp. KCCM12257 presented 233 CAZyme genes with a predominant glycosyl hydrolase family. This contributes degradation of various polysaccharides including chitin and chitosan, and other promising candidates for the production of different oligosaccharides. We screened the strain providing different polysaccharides as a sole source of carbon and strain KCCM12257, showed higher activity towards colloidal chitosan. Further, we identified and characterized a new chitosanase (MDI5907146) of GH46 family. There was no activity towards chitin, carboxymethylcellulose, or even with chitosan powder. This enzyme acts on colloidal chitosan and hydrolyzes it down into monoacetyl chitobiose, which consists of two glucosamine units with an acetyl group attached to them. The maximum enzyme activity was observed at pH 6.5 and 40 °C using colloidal chitosan as a substrate. The Co metal ions almost double the reaction as compared to other metal ions. The dissociation constant (K) and of colloidal chitosan (≥90 % and ≥75%DD) were 3.03 mg/ml and 5.01 mg/ml respectively, while maximum velocity (V) values were found to be 36 mg/ml, and 30 μM/μg/min, respectively. Similarly, catalytic efficiency (K/K) of colloidal chitosan with ≥90 %DD was 1.9 fold higher than colloidal chitosan with ≥75%DD.