The oligomeric state of chitooligosaccharide deacetylase from the marine bacterium Vibrio campbellii

). Chemical cross-linking experiments showed that macromolecular crowding reagents promote the formation of cross-linked dimer species. Taken together, we concluded that homodimerization of Vibrio CODs arises under crowded conditions rather than representing a dominant state. This interpretation is consistent with the physiological context of VhCOD as a secretory protein that is translocated through the crowded periplasm, where transient dimerization may be relevant prior to final export across the outer membrane.