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Esterase and Peroxidase Are Involved in the Transformation of Chitosan Films by the Fungus Fusarium oxysporum Schltdl. IBPPM 543

Summary

Researchers discovered that a common fungus called Fusarium oxysporum can modify chitosan films in unique ways without destroying them. The fungus produces special enzymes (esterase and peroxidase) that strengthen and reorganize the chitosan material, making it more resistant to dissolution and better suited for practical applications like drug delivery or water purification.

Background

Chitosan is a biopolymer with diverse biological activities and applications in biotechnology. While previous studies focused on chitosanase-mediated degradation, non-destructive chitosan transformation by fungal enzymes represents a promising approach for creating novel functional materials.

Objective

To investigate the ability of Fusarium oxysporum to modify chitosan films without destroying their structural integrity and to identify the enzymatic mechanisms involved in this transformation process.

Results

F. oxysporum successfully overgrew chitosan films without degradation, increasing film porosity and crystallinity. The fungus produced extracellular esterase and peroxidase enzymes that catalyzed oxidation and crosslinking of chitosan chains without breaking β-(1,4)-glycosidic bonds, resulting in decreased solubility and altered mechanical properties.

Conclusion

F. oxysporum transforms chitosan through a specific enzymatic mechanism involving esterase and peroxidase, creating materials with modified structural and functional properties suitable for biotechnological applications while preserving polymer integrity.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 40863518, DOI: 10.3390/jof11080565
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