SUMMARY: Preparations of chitin synthetase (EC. 2.4.1.16) from the stipe of the toadstool Coprinus cinereus were characterized. Microsomal fractions had a very high specific activity. The chitin synthetase had been solubilized by treatment with digitonin, with an increase in specific activity and in stability. Optimum conditions for enzyme activity were determined. These preparations needed only a divalent cation and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine for chitin synthesis and showed no primer requirement. The sole glycosyl product was characterized as macro-molecular chitin.
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