This short domain is found in many different glycosyl hydrolase enzymes, representing the carbohydrate-binding module family 5/12, including proteins such as chitinase A1, chitinase B, and endoglucanase. The domain has a carbohydrate-binding function and contains six aromatic groups that may be important for binding. These modules have a core structure consisting of a 3-stranded meander beta-sheet [1-5].

1: Solution structure of the chitin-binding domain of Bacillus circulans WL-12 chitinase A1. Ikegami T, Okada T, Hashimoto M, Seino S, Watanabe T, Shirakawa M; J Biol Chem. 2000;275:13654-13661. PMID:10788483

2: Structural studies of a two-domain chitinase from Streptomyces griseus HUT6037. Kezuka Y, Ohishi M, Itoh Y, Watanabe J, Mitsutomi M, Watanabe T, Nonaka T; J Mol Biol. 2006;358:472-484. PMID:16516924

3: Identification of the substrate interaction region of the chitin-binding domain of Streptomyces griseus chitinase C. Akagi K, Watanabe J, Hara M, Kezuka Y, Chikaishi E, Yamaguchi T, Akutsu H, Nonaka T, Watanabe T, Ikegami T; J Biochem. 2006;139:483-493.DR CAZY; CBM5; PMID:16567413

4: Solution structure of the chitin-binding domain 1 (ChBD1) of a hyperthermophilic chitinase from Pyrococcus furiosus. Mine S, Nakamura T, Sato T, Ikegami T, Uegaki K; J Biochem. 2014;155:115-122. PMID:24272751

5: Structure-based analysis of domain function of chitin oligosaccharide deacetylase from Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Hirano T, Sugiyama K, Sakaki Y, Hakamata W, Park SY, Nishio T; FEBS Lett. 2015;589:145-151. PMID:25479092