Question

The polysaccharide chitin was first discovered about two hundred years ago by Henri Braconnot, when researching the composition and nutritional value of mushrooms. Since then, chitin has been found to play an important structural role in fungi, crustaceans and insects. Although chitin is not produced by humans, somewhat surprisingly the enzyme chitinase that breaks down chitin has been found in certain human tissues. Suggest an explanation for this situation guided by the following questions:

a. What is about the molecular structure of chitin that enable it to play an important structural role?

b. What is the chemistry of chitinase breakdown of chitin?

c. To which human diseases has chitinase been linked?

d. In which human tissues is chitinase most prevalent and why?

e. Chitinase drug therapy is being considered in humans. What is the current opinion, and give your opinion, about its effectiveness and potential future use for counteracting certain diseases?

Answer 1

a)Chitin is polysaccharide a long-chain polymer of N-acetyl glucosamine, is a derivative of glucose containing nitrogen. Synthesized from units of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Chitin may be described as cellulose with one hydroxyl group on each monomer replaced with an acetyl amine group. The increased hydrogen bonding is the key for increased structural strength.

b)Chitin is a polysaccharide created by beta,1-4 bonding of N-acetyl glucosamine residues. It is broken down by two enzymes chitinase and he hexosaminidase . Chitinase enzyme is capable of degrading chitin. Chitinase enzyme breaks down chitin by hydrolyzing chitn. Chitinase acts as glycoside bonds forming an oxazolinium ion intermediate which is non functional protein.Chitinase acts mainly on the hydrogen bonds and causing the degradation of chitin.

c)Chitin is major structural component of most of common fungi .Humans though lack chitin but efficiently produces chitinase enzymes which break down chitin. Chitinase enzyme majorly seen during allergic infections .A number of pulmonary infections caused by most of fungal species in humans result in production of chitinase enzyme causing degradation of chitin.

d) Most of the activity of chitinase activity in humans is seen in blood circulation. Blood carries most of the enzyme chitinase enzyme which readily act on the fungal proteins and fungal organisms containing chitin. Blood is the first tissue which is encountered with the fungal proteins and this tissue contains most of the enzyme for their degradation.

e) Chitinase can cause great impact on healthcare industry which struggles to make drugs for allergic infections including asthma producing antihistamine drugs. More development in chitinase production mechanisms can curb most of fungal infections at low cost compared to producing antihistamine drugs. Production of chitinase enzyme is cost effective compared to antihistamine drugs.