Cuticle-induced endo/exoacting chitinase CHIT30 from Metarhizium anisopliae is encoded by an ortholog of the chi3 gene

The characterization of chitinase genes and enzymes is an important step toward global understanding of the chitinolytic system in entomopathogenic fungi. Chitinase CHIT30 from Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae (strain E6) has both endo- and exochitinase activities and is a potential determinant of pathogenicity. Serum anti-CHIT30 specifically detected this chitinase amongst five isoenzymes shown in glycol-chitin activity gels. Chitinase CHIT30 secretion is upregulated by chitin, tick cuticle and low concentrations of N-acetylglucosamine (0.25%) and is downregulated by both high N-acetylglucosamine (1%) and glucose (1%) concentrations. Chitinase CHIT30 was produced at tick cuticle during fungal infection. The chi3 gene was assigned to code chitinase CHIT30 in M. anisopliae var. anisopliae.