Production and chitinase-binding ability of lipo-chitopentaose nodulation factor

The penta-N-acetyl-chitopentaose 2 has been prepared by using recombinant E. coli strains harboring the nodC gene (encoding chitooligosaccharide synthase) from Azorhizobium caulinodans. Then, the deacetylase NodB removed the N-acetyl moiety from the nonreducing terminus of 2 to give tetra-N-acetyl-chitopentaose 3. N-Acylation of 3 with stearyl chloride was performed in DMF containing water and provided the corresponding lipo-chitopentaose nodulation factor 4. A binding chitinase assay indicated that 4 was much more stable than 3.