This book provides a comprehensive overview of chitin biology and chitin metabolism related enzymes. Chitin, the second most abundant biopolymer in nature after to cellulose, is a linear biopolymer composed of ß-1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), and an essential component in the exoskeletons of insects, mites, ticks and crustaceans, the egg shells of parasitic nematodes, and fungal cell walls. Although some chitin-containing organisms are a threat to human health, food safety and agricultural production, non-chitin containing organisms like humans, mammals and plants have an innate immune response to these hazardous organisms. The book provides researchers and students with information on the recent research advances concerning the biology of chitin-containing organisms as well as cross-talks between chitin-containing and non-chitin-containing organisms. Highlighting chitin remodeling enzymes and inhibitors, it also offers drug developers essentialinsights into designing specific molecules for the control of hazardous chitin-containing organisms.

Autorentext

Dr. Qing Yang is a Professor of Biochemistry at the School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, China.  She is also a Principle Investigator at the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing. Dr Yang has been engaged in chitin biology, in particular insect cuticle biology, for more than 15 years. Focusing on insect molting, she has identified the structural and biochemical characteristics of a series of enzymes that are directly involved in chitin degradation, modification and biosynthesis. Dr. Yang has published over 100 research articles in this field. She was recruited into the program for New Century Excellent Talents at the Ministry of Education of People's Republic of China University, and has been awarded National Distinguished Young Scholar of China.

Dr. Tamo Fukamizo is a Visiting Professor at the School of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand. He has been working on chitin and chitosan degrading enzymes for more than twenty years and has published more than 120 research articles in this field.

Inhalt

An Introduction to the book.- Chitin: structure, chemistry & biology.- Chitin prevalence and function in bacteria, fungi and protists.- Immune responses of mammals and plants to chitin-containing pathogens.- Chitin organizing and modifying enzymes and proteins involved in remodeling of the insect cuticle.- Chitin-active lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases.-  Bacterial Chitinase System as a Model of Chitin Biodegradation.- Chitin synthesis and degradation in fungi: biology and enzymes.- Chitin in Arthropods: Biosynthesis, Modification and Metabolism.- Nematode chitin and application.- Human Chitinases: Structure, Function and Inhibitor Discovery.- Chitin/chitosan-active enzymes involved in plant-microbe interactions.- Chitinous structures as potential targets for insect pest control