%0 Journal Article %A Reynolds, D. M. %T Exocellular Chitinase from a Streptomyces sp %D 1954 %J Microbiology, %V 11 %N 2 %P 150-159 %@ 1465-2080 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-11-2-150 %I Microbiology Society, %X SUMMARY: A number of cultures of chitin-decomposing aerobic bacteria were isolated by the enrichment technique. Chitin decomposition was followed by measurement of loss of alkali-resistant insoluble substrate. Agitated submerged cultures secured a much more rapid breakdown of chitin than static cultures. The exocellular chitinase produced by a species of Streptomyces in agitated submerged culture was studied. The effects of pH value and substrate concentration on enzyme activity were examined and the results used to establish a chitinase assay in terms of reducing-sugar production. The enzyme was an inducible one (adaptive). The enzyme was concentrated by ultrafiltration and lyophilization. The water-soluble reducing materials produced by the enzyme from chitin were identified as N-acetylglucosamine and its corresponding disaccharide, N.N-diacetylchitobiose. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-11-2-150