Hydrolysis of chitodextrins, releasing N,N'-diacetylchitobiose and small amounts of N,N',N''-triacetylchitotriose.
Comment
The enzyme, characterized from the bacterium Vibrio furnissii, is an endo-cleaving chitodextrinase that participates in the the chitin catabolic pathway found in members of the Vibrionaceae. Unlike EC 3.2.1.14, chitinase, it has no activity on chitin. The smallest substrate is a tetrasaccharide, and the final products are N,N'-diacetylchitobiose and small amounts of N,N',N''-triacetylchitotriose. cf. EC 3.2.1.200, exo-chitinase (non-reducing end), and EC 3.2.1.201, exo-chitinase (reducing end).
The chitin catabolic cascade in the marine bacterium Vibrio furnissii. Molecular cloning, isolation, and characterization of a periplasmic chitodextrinase.