Comparison of the potential activities of viral and bacterial chitinases

Abstract Background Chitin, a long-chain polymer of N -acetylglucosamine, is major structural component the insect exoskeleton and peritrophic membrane (PM). Chitinases are able to effectively break down glycosidic bonds chitin thus can be used in agriculture control plant pathogen insects. These enzymes synthesized by higher plants, animals, protista, bacteria, viruses. Results In this study, viral bacterial chitinases were compared for their potential activity on laboratory test insect. The genes encoding Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcNPV) Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) amplified from genomic DNAs PCR cloned into pET-28a (+) expression vector. chitinase proteins these 2 viruses (AcNPV-Chi, CpGV-Chi) Serratia marcescens C (ChiC) protein which was previously overexpressed Escherichia coli . Expressed purified confirmed western blot analysis as 50, 63, 68 kDa AcNPV, CpGV, S. chitinases, respectively. Enzyme activities confirmed. also each other silico. insecticidal effects evaluated Galleria mellonella L. larvae. Bioassays performed 3rd instar larvae triplicate. results showed that although there differences enzymatic domain organizations, all 3 microbial produced almost same level LC 50 LT values compatible with mortality results. preanalysis comparing chitinases. Conclusion Potential experiments should carried out more insects provide detailed information