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In enzymology, a chitin synthase (EC 2.4.1.16) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine + n ${\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons }$ UDP + n1

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and n]], whereas its two products are UDP and n+1]].

This enzyme belongs to the family of glycosyltransferases, specifically the hexosyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine:chitin 4-beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase. Other names in common use include chitin-UDP N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, chitin-uridine diphosphate acetylglucosaminyltransferase, chitin synthetase, and trans-N-acetylglucosaminosylase. This enzyme participates in aminosugars metabolism.

Production

Chitin Synthase is manufactured in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of fungi as the inactive form, zymogen. The zymogen is then packaged into chitosomes in the golgi apparatus. Chitosomes bring the zymogen to the hyphal tip of a mold or yeast cell membrane. Chitin synthase is placed into the interior side of the cell membrane and then activated.

Inhibition

Benzoylurea as well as other insecticides act as insect growth regulators by inhibiting this enzyme and thus preventing the formation of chitin. They are in IRAC mode of action groups 10, 15 and 16.

References

1. Douris, Vassilis; Steinbach, Denise; Panteleri, Rafaela; Livadaras, Ioannis; Pickett, John Anthony; Van Leeuwen, Thomas; Nauen, Ralf; Vontas, John (2016). "2016". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 113 (51): 14692–14697. doi:10.1073/pnas.1618258113. PMC 5187681. PMID 27930336.
2. "The IRAC Mode of Action Classification Online". Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC). Retrieved 7 December 2024.

• GLASER L, BROWN DH (1957). "The synthesis of chitin in cell-free extracts of Neurospora crassa". J. Biol. Chem. 228 (2): 729–42. PMID 13475355.
• Sburlati A, Cabib E (1986). "Chitin synthetase 2, a presumptive participant in septum formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae". J. Biol. Chem. 261 (32): 15147–52. PMID 2945823.

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