%0 Journal Article %A Chu, Hoang Ha %A Hoang, Viet %A Hofemeister, Jürgen %A Schrempf, Hildgund %T A Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ChbB protein binds β- and α-chitin and has homologues in related strainsThe GenBank/NCIB accession number for the sequence reported in this paper is AF181997. %D 2001 %J Microbiology, %V 147 %N 7 %P 1793-1803 %@ 1465-2080 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-147-7-1793 %K chitin-binding protein %K chbB gene %I Microbiology Society, %X A small (19·8 kDa) protein was identified in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ALKO 2718 cultures during growth in the presence of yeast extract and chitin, but not with glucose. The protein targets β-chitin best, then α-chitin, but barely any other polysaccharide. This described chitin-binding protein (ChbB) is the first of its type from a Bacillus strain and cross-reacts with antibodies raised against the Streptomyces α-chitin-binding protein CHB1. Using reverse genetics, the chromosomal chbB gene of strain ALKO 2718 was identified, cloned and sequenced. ChbB shares several motifs with the α-chitin-binding proteins CHB1 and CHB2 of Streptomyces and CBP21 of Serratia marcescens predominantly targeting β-chitin. Synthesis was repressed by glucose and the presence of cre boxes suggests catabolite control. Using PCR, Southern hybridization and anti-ChbB antibodies, the presence of a chbB gene, as well as of a ChbB protein homologue, was ascertained in several tested B. amyloliquefaciens strains, but not in Bacillus subtilis 168. Contrary to B. subtilis 168, all B. amyloliquefaciens strains secreted varying amounts of enzymic activity, degrading carboxymethyl chitin coupled with Remazol brilliant violet. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-147-7-1793