Chitinase A1 from Bacillus circulans catalyses the hydrolysis of the 1,4-beta linkages of N-acetyl-D glucosamine polymers of chitin. For bacteria, this hydrolysis is utilised primarily as carbon and energy sources. Chitinase A1 is proposed to be very similar to hen egg-white lysozyme, differing only in that it undergoes a 'substrate assisted' mechanism.
Defined by 4 residues: ASP:A-168 [auth A-200]ASP:A-170 [auth A-202]GLU:A-172 [auth A-204]TYR:A-247 [auth A-279]