Identification of Chitinolytic System in Allium fistulosum

Chitinase was partially purified from Allium fistulosum L (green onion_. Protein fraction precipitated from ammonium sulfate was passed through CM-Sepharose and Sephacryl HR-200. The specific activity of the chitinase was 6.4 units/mg and total recovery was 6.3%. The analysis of the products from the digestion of N-acetychitohexaose indicated that chitinase was endo in action, with oligerms from N-acetylchitobiose to chitotetraose. N-Acetylglucosaminidase from the same species hydrolyzed oligomers obtained from chitinase reaction to lower oligosaccharides. These data demonstrated that chitinolytic system exists in green onion.