Study of thermostable chitinases from Oerskovia xanthineolytica NCIM 2839

The mesophilic organism, Oerskovia xanthineolytica NCIM 2839, was adapted to grow at moderate thermophilic temperatures. At these elevated temperatures, it was found to produce two thermostable chitinases—C1 and C2. These were purified by ion exchange chromatography using DEAE cellulose. The chitinases C1 and C2 were found to be stable in a pH range from 3.0 to 9.0 with 7.5 and 8.0 being the optimum pH, respectively. The optimum temperatures of the activities of C1 and C2 were 50 and 55°C, respectively. These were activated by Mn⁺⁺ and Cu⁺⁺and inactivated by Hg⁺⁺. This is first report of an extracellular thermostable chitinase being produced by O. xanthineolytica NCIM 2839.