Chitinase

• OMIM: 600031
• UniProt: Q13231
• MGI: 1919134

Chitotriosidase ( chitinase also ) is an enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of chitin. Chitinases are produced by all organisms, which are able to synthesize chitin and for pathogen defense and for digestion by further organisms. Chitotriosidase can be produced by activated macrophages in vertebrates.

In humans, a participation in the defense of chitin-containing pathogens such as fungi, nematodes and insects is discussed, however, the existing 6% of the population complete enzyme deficiency appears to have no clinical significance.

Very high concentrations of chitotriosidase values ​​are found in the blood serum of patients with Gaucher disease in which the enzymes are also used to control the enzyme replacement therapy. Even with other lysosomal storage diseases, arteriosclerosis, thalassemia, sarcoidosis, multiple sclerosis as well as non- alcoholic fatty liver inflammation, the enzyme activity is slightly elevated in the serum to strong. Similarly, in healthy elderly blood serum levels are higher than in healthy young people.

The encoding gene is located in human chromosome 1 ( 1q31 - q32 ) and is found in homologous form, inter alia, obtain evolutionary in rodents and primates.

To determine the enzyme activity is allowed to degrade the substrate 4- methylumbelliferyl- Triacetylchitotriosid by chitotriosidase and then measuring by means of fluorescence spectroscopy, the resulting product methylumbelliferone. Normal values ​​are well below 200nmol/h/ml.