Human chitotriosidase CHIT1 cross reacts with mammalian-like substrates

FEBS Lett. 2014 Mar 3;588(5):746-51. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.12.035. Epub 2014 Jan 23.

Abstract

Humans do not synthesize chitin, yet they produce a number of active and inactive chitinases. One of the active enzymes is chitotriosidase whose serum levels are elevated in a number of diseases such as Gaucher's disease and upon fungal infection. Since the biological role of chitotriosidase in disease pathogenesis is not understood we screened a panel of mammalian GlcNAc-containing glycoconjugates as alternate substrates. LacNAc and LacdiNAc-terminating substrates are hydrolyzed, the latter with a turnover comparable to that of pNP-chitotriose. Glycolipids or glycoproteins with LacNAc and LacdiNAc represent potential chitinase substrates and the subsequent alteration of glycosylation pattern could be a factor in disease pathogenesis.

Keywords: Chitinases; Family 18 glycosidases; GlcNAc-containing substrates; Glycoconjugates; Kinetics; LacNAc; LacdiNAc.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbohydrate Conformation
  • Disaccharides / chemistry
  • Glycolipids / chemistry
  • Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hexosaminidases / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Hydrolysis
  • Kinetics
  • Nitrophenols / chemistry
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Disaccharides
  • Glycolipids
  • Glycoproteins
  • Nitrophenols
  • Hexosaminidases
  • chitotriosidase