Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Measurement of Chitinase Activity in Biological Samples
Published on: August 22, 2019
Bacterial chitinases and chitin-binding proteins as virulence factors
Rikki F Frederiksen1, Dafni K Paspaliari1, Tanja Larsen1
1Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegaardsvej 15, 1870 Frederiksberg C., Denmark.
Abstract:
Bacterial chitinases (EC 3.2.1.14) and chitin-binding proteins (CBPs) play a fundamental role in the degradation of the ubiquitous biopolymer chitin, and the degradation products serve as an important nutrient source for marine- and soil-dwelling bacteria. However, it has recently become clear that representatives of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens encode chitinases and CBPs that support infection of non-chitinous mammalian hosts. This review addresses this biological role of bacterial chitinases and CBPs in terms of substrate specificities, regulation, secretion and involvement in cellular and animal infection.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Bacterial Toxins
Colonisation of Pathogens
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Adherens Junctions
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
