N-acetylglucosaminidase involved in cortex peptidoglycan degradation during germination. Cleaves only partially degraded spore peptidoglycans. Recognizes muramic acid delta-lactam residues specific to spore peptidoglycans. Probably present in the inner coat. Expressed in the mother cell compartment from T2 of sporulation. Expression is regulated by the sporulation transcription factor sigma E. Inactivation of the gene does not impair vegetative growth nor prevent the development of resistance to heat, chloroform and lysozyme (PubMed:10419957). According to Kodama et al, the germination of the mutant spores induced by L-alanine is defective. However Chirakkal et al reported that the mutant shows wild-type germination kinetics in L-alanine (PubMed:12177332, PubMed:10419957). Belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 18 family. Chitinase class II subfamily. Was originally thought to have epimerase activity. Truncated N-terminus. Truncated N-terminus.