Introduction
possess exochitinase activity [10]. Plant chitinases
Chitinase (poly[1,4-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminid]glycan
hydrolase, EC 3.2.1.14) catalyzes the hydrolysis
of chitin polymer in fungal cell walls into N-
acetylglucosamine oligomers [1]. Plant chitinases
are induced as a result of pathogenic infections as
well as by abiotic agents [2–4].In vitrostudies have
shown that chitinases possess antifungal activity and
cause lysis of hyphal tips [5–7]. Furthermore, some
chitinases exhibit lysozymic activity and are thus able
to hydrolyze bacterial peptidoglycan layer [2]. Others
show exohydrolytic activity [8].
Chitinases are low MW pathogenesis-related (PR)
proteins that are often extracellular, acid soluble and
protease resistant [9]. The majority of plant chitinases
are endochitinases and only a few that are charac-