Low molecular weight chitosans--preparation with the aid of pronase, characterization and their bactericidal activity towards Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli.

The homogeneous low molecular weight chitosans (LMWC) of molecular weight 9.5-8.5 kDa, obtained by pronase catalyzed non-specific depolymerization (at pH 3.

Characterization of chito-oligosaccharides prepared by chitosanolysis with the aid of papain and Pronase, and their bactericidal action against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli.

Papain (from papaya latex; EC 3.4.22.

Chitooligosaccharides--preparation with the aid of pectinase isozyme from Aspergillus niger and their antibacterial activity.

An isozyme of pectinase from Aspergillus niger with polygalacturonase activity caused chitosanolysis at pH 3.5, resulting in low-molecular weight chitosan (86%), chitooligosaccharides (COs, 4.8%) and monomers (2.

Non-specific depolymerization of chitosan by pronase and characterization of the resultant products.

Pronase (type XXV serine protease from Streptomyces griseus) efficiently depolymerizes chitosan, a linear beta-->1,4-linked polysaccharide of 2-amino-deoxyglucose and 2-amino-2-N-acetylamino-D-glucose, to low-molecular weight chitosans (LMWC), chito-oligomers (degree of polymerization, 2-6) and monomer. The maximum depolymerization occurred at pH 3.5 and 37 degrees C, and the reaction obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Km of 5.

Low molecular weight chitosans--preparation by depolymerization with Aspergillus niger pectinase, and characterization.

The viscosity of a chitosan solution was rapidly lowered in the presence of pectinase from Aspergillus niger at pH 3.0 and 37 degrees C. The low molecular weight chitosans (LMWC) had a molecular weight in the range 20,000-5000 Da.