Hexa-N-acetylchitohexaose is a hexamer of N-acetylglucosamine, a subunit of the natural polymer chitin. It functions as an elicitor in plants, inducing the expression of chitinases. [1][2] Like chitin and some of its derivatives, hexa-N-acetylchitohexaose is a substrate of lysozyme.[3] It also binds LysM domains on certain proteins, including an endopeptidase of T. thermophilus [4]. Hexa-N-acetylchitohexaose heightens the immune response against Pseudomonas and Listeria in mice, stimulates cytokine secretion in mesenchymal stem cells, and inhibits nitric oxide production by activated macrophages.[5][6][7][8]
Reference:
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[2]. Gao, Y., Zan, X.L., Wu, X.F., et al. Identification of fungus-responsive cis-acting element in the promoter of Brassica juncea chitinase gene, BjCHI1. Plant Science 215-216, 190-198 (2014).
[3]. Ouyang, Z., Takáts, Z., Blake, T.A., et al. Preparing protein microarrays by soft-landing of mass-selected ions. Science 301, 1351-1354 (2003).
[4]. Wong, J.E.M.M., Midtgaard, S.R., Gysel, K., et al. An intermolecular binding mechanism involving multiple LysM domains mediates carbohydrate recognition by an endopeptidase. Acta.Cryst. D71, 592-605 (2014).
[5]. Tokoro, A., Kobayashi, M., Tatewaki, N., et al. Protective effect of N-acetyl chitohexaose on Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice. Microbiology and Immunology 33(4), 357-367 (1989).
[6]. Okawa, Y., Kobayashi, M., Suzuki, S., et al. Comparative study of protetive effects of chitin, chitosan, and N-acetyl chitohexaose against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes infections in mice. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bullentin 26(6), 902-904 (2003).
[7]. Lieder, R., Thormodsson, F., Ng, C.H., et al. Chitosan and chitin hexamers affect expansion and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells differently. Int.J.Biol.Macromol. 51(4), 675-680 (2012).
[8]. Hwang, S.M., Chen, C.Y., Chen, S.S., et al. Chitinous materials inhibit nitric oxide production by activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 271(1), 229-233 (2000).