Chitinases occur naturally in many common foods. Bananas significant levels of chitinase, as defense against fungal and invertebrate attack. Proteomic analysis revealed that chitinases are the most abundant proteins in the pulp of unripe bananas.
Chitin, the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature after cellulose. Chitinases are enzymes that degrade chitin. Chitinases contribute to the generation of carbon and nitrogen in the ecosystem. Chitin and chitinolytic enzymes are gaining importance for their biotechnological applications, especially the chitinases exploited in agriculture fields to control pathogens.
Chitinases are involved in many physiological and bioconversion processes. It plays a major role in nutrition and parasitism in bacteria. In case of plants and vertebrates, it is involved in the defense mechanisms.
Chitinases are involved in morphogenesis in invertebrates, protozoa and fungi. Baculoviruses also produces chitinases for pathogenesis. Chitotriosodase enzyme was also used as marker of lysosomal storage disorder.
Chitinases are a well‐known group of food allergens, mainly of plant origins. Even if many of them have been detected in fresh fruits and berries, and therefore not subjected to any food processing before assumption, it also emerged that chitinases present in processed food (flour, beer and polenta) can be allergenic.
Chitinase in banana
Bananas represent on of the most widely traded agricultural goods in the world with annual export valued at five billion dollars. There are two main varieties of bananas, the fruit or sweet banana and the plantain.....
The most popular posts
-
Pectin, a widely used gelling agent and stabilizer in various food products, has long been sourced predominantly from citrus peel and apple ...
-
Banana Physical Characteristics Healthy filling, and even already wrapped for the consumer, bananas are one of nature’s ideal foods and the...
-
The yellow and orange-fleshed bananas are rich in provitamin A and other carotenoids. Provitamin A carotenoids, including β-carotene, are i...
-
Pisang Raja, also known as Musa Belle, Manzano, or apple bananas, stands as a regal figure in the world of bananas, earning its title from i...
-
The pseudo-stem of banana plant is the stem of banana plant that provides and transports nutrients from the soil to the fruits. The banana p...