2-acylamido analogues of n-acetylglucosamine prime formation of chitin oligosaccharides by yeast chitin synthase 2

Abstract

Background: Chitin synthases are stimulated by N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). Results: GlcNAc and 2-acylamido analogues of GlcNAc stimulate formation of chitin oligosaccharides by yeast chitin synthase, and GlcNAc is transferred to the 2-acylamido analogues. Conclusion: Chitin synthases use GlcNAc analogues as primers and transfer one GlcNAc at a time. Significance: Results are new insights into polysaccharide synthase mechanism and suggest ways of synthesizing novel modified polysaccharides. © 2014 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.