• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.139-144
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• 2003

A chitinase cDNA named CHT1 was cloned from the hard tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, and the enzymatic properties of its recombinant proteins were characterized. The CHT1 cDNA encodes 930 amino-acid (aa) residues including a 22 aa putative signal peptide, with the calculated molecular mass of the putative mature protein 104 kDa. The E coli-expressed rCHT1 exhibited weak chitinolytic activity against $4MU-(GlcNAc)_3$. The rCHT1 protein with higher activity was obtained using recombinant Autographa californica multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV), which expresses rCHT1 under polyhedrin promoter. These findings suggest that the rCHT1 expressed in baculovirus-mediated Sf 9 cells has a high activity than E coli-expressed rCHT1.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.1287-1291
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• 2009

The genes of cyanide hydratase(CHT), a kind of nitrilases whichhydrolyze cyanide to formamide were extracted from N. crassa and A. nidulans, the two fungal strains. The recombinant forms of the CHT originated from N. crassa and A. nidulans were prepared with N-terminal hexahistidine purificationtags or no tags, and expressed in E. coli. The enzymes were purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. They were compared according to their pH activity profiles, and kinetic parameters. The N. crassa CHT has the wider pH range of activity above 50% and three-fold higher turnover rate (6.6 ${\times}$ $10^8$ $min^{-1}$) than the A. nidulans, meanwhile the CHT of A. nidulans has the higher $K_m$ value. Expression of CHT in both N. crassa and A. nidulans were induced by the presence of KCN, regardless of any presence of nitrogen sources. Max. 82% of KCN was degraded in 60 min for biological degradation tests.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.145-150
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• 2003

To determine effectively the chitinolytic activity of rCHT1 from the hard tick H. longicornis expressed in baculovirus-mediated Spodoptera frugtperda (Sf) 9 cells, a simple and sensitive assay system was established in solid phase using agarose gel containing ethylene glycol chitin as substrate. The various factors affecting the efficacy of the assay were also investigated. The effects of various temperature, dosages of proteins, pH of media and time courses of reaction were examined to verify the sensitivity of assay for chitinolytic activity of rCHT1 protein. It was found that the optimal reactive conditions were $37^{\circ}C$ of temperature, 12 to 15 hours of reactive times, $0.1{\mu}g$ of protein concentration and pH 5 to 7 of media. Using the assay system designed, the functional activities of H. longicornis rCHT1l protein could be evaluated simply and sensitively.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1221-1226
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• 2008

A variety of fungal species are known to degrade cyanide through the action of cyanide hydratase, a specialized nitrilases which hydrolyze cyanide to formamide. This work is a report on two unknown and un-characterized members from Neurospora crassa and Aspergillus nidulans. Recombinant forms of three cyanide hydratases (CHT) originated from N. crassa, Gibberella zeae, and A. nidulans were prepared after their genes were cloned with N-terminal hexahistidine purification tags, expressed in E. coli and purified using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. These enzymes were compared according to their pH activity profiles, and kinetic parameters. Although all three were similar, the N. crassa CHT has the widest pH range of activity above 50% and highest turnover rate ($6.6{\times}10^8min^{-1}$) among them. The CHT of A. nidulans has the highest Km value of the three nitrilases evaluated in here. Expression of CHT in both N. crassa and A. nidulans were induced by the presence of KCN, regardless of any presence of nitrogen sources. These data can be used to determine optimal procedures for the enzyme uses in the remediation of cyanide-containing wastes.