Mass spectrometric analysis of chitin oligosaccharides produced by Rhizobium NodC protein in Escherichia coli.

A system for studying the in vivo activity of Rhizobium NodC protein in Escherichia coli has been developed. Using thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry, we show that in this system R. leguminosarum bv. viciae NodC protein directs the synthesis of chitinpentaose, chitintetraose, chitintriose, and two as yet unidentified modified chitin oligosaccharides.