X-ray crystallographic study of xylopentaose binding to Pseudomonas fluorescens xylanase A

A novel class of xylanases specifically degrade marine red algal β1,3/1,4-mixed-linkage xylan

Xylans are polysaccharides composed of xylose and include β1,4-xylan, β1,3-xylan, and β1,3/1,4-mixed-linkage xylan (MLX). MLX is widely present in marine red algae and constitutes a significant organic carbon in the ocean. Xylanases are hydrolase enzymes that play an important role in xylan degradation. While a variety of β1,4-xylanases and β1,3-xylanases involved in the degradation of β1,4-xylan and β1,3-xylan have been reported, no specific enzyme has yet been identified that degrades MLX. Herein, we report the characterization of a new MLX-specific xylanase from the marine bacterium Polaribacter sp. Q13 which utilizes MLX for growth. The bacterium secretes xylanases to degrade MLX, among which is Xyn26A, an MLX-specific xylanase that shows low sequence similarities (<27%) to β1,3-xylanases in the glycoside hydrolase family 26 (GH26). We show that Xyn26A attacks MLX precisely at β1,4-linkages, following a β1,3-linkage toward the reducing end. We confirm that Xyn26A and its homologs have the same specificity and mode of action on MLX, and thus represent a new xylanase group which we term as MLXases. We further solved the structure of a representative MLXase, AlXyn26A. Structural and biochemical analyses revealed that the specificity of MLXases depends critically on a precisely positioned β1,3-linkage at the -2/-1 subsite. Compared to the GH26 β1,3-xylanases, we found MLXases have evolved a tunnel-shaped cavity that is fine-tuned to specifically recognize and hydrolyze MLX. Overall, this study offers a foremost insight into MLXases, shedding light on the biochemical mechanism of bacterial degradation of MLX.

Alkaline Active Hemicellulases

Xylan and mannan are the two most abundant hemicelluloses, and enzymes that modify these polysaccharides are prominent hemicellulases with immense biotechnological importance. Among these enzymes, xylanases and mannanases which play the vital role in the hydrolysis of xylan and mannan, respectively, attracted a great deal of interest. These hemicellulases have got applications in food, feed, bioethanol, pulp and paper, chemical, and beverage producing industries as well as in biorefineries and environmental biotechnology. The great majority of the enzymes used in these applications are optimally active in mildly acidic to neutral range. However, in recent years, alkaline active enzymes have also become increasingly important. This is mainly due to some benefits of utilizing alkaline active hemicellulases over that of neutral or acid active enzymes. One of the advantages is that the alkaline active enzymes are most suitable to applications that require high pH such as Kraft pulp delignification, detergent formulation, and cotton bioscouring. The other benefit is related to the better solubility of hemicelluloses at high pH. Since the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis is often positively correlated to substrate solubility, the hydrolysis of hemicelluloses can be more efficient if performed at high pH. High pH hydrolysis requires the use of alkaline active enzymes. Moreover, alkaline extraction is the most common hemicellulose extraction method, and direct hydrolysis of the alkali-extracted hemicellulose could be of great interest in the valorization of hemicellulose. Direct hydrolysis avoids the time-consuming extensive washing, and neutralization processes required if non-alkaline active enzymes are opted to be used. Furthermore, most alkaline active enzymes are relatively active in a wide range of pH, and at least some of them are significantly or even optimally active in slightly acidic to neutral pH range. Such enzymes can be eligible for non-alkaline applications such as in feed, food, and beverage industries.This chapter largely focuses on the most important alkaline active hemicellulases, endo-β-1,4-xylanases and β-mannanases. It summarizes the relevant catalytic properties, structural features, as well as the real and potential applications of these remarkable hemicellulases in textile, paper and pulp, detergent, feed, food, and prebiotic producing industries. In addition, the chapter depicts the role of these extremozymes in valorization of hemicelluloses to platform chemicals and alike in biorefineries. It also reviews hemicelluloses and discusses their biotechnological importance.

Sandwich fusion of CBM9_2 to enhance xylanase thermostability and activity

Used as model for sandwich fusion, a mesophilic Aspergillus niger GH11 xylanase (Xyn) was fused into C2-Xyn-C2 with a thermophilic Thermotaga maritima GH10 xylanase carbohydrate-binding module CBM9_2 (C2). Linearized plasmids C2-pET20b-C2-Xyn were amplified from template pET20b-Xyn-C2 with a 4.3 kb C2-pET20b megaprimer, ligated into circular plasmids in blunt-end ligation, and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells. The C2-Xyn-C2 had optimum activity at 45 °C and pH 4.2, a 2.85 h thermal inactivation half-life at 80 °C and a 8.69 h at 50 °C, with the 8.69 h value 24.8-, 7.5-, and 7.1-fold longer than the Xyn and single terminal fusion enzymes Xyn-C2, and C2-Xyn. Thermodynamics showed that the enzyme had a 1.8 °C higher melting temperature, lower values ΔS, ΔΔG, and a denser structure than the Xyn. Kinetics showed that the C2-Xyn-C2 catalytic efficiency was 1.2-~6-fold and 2.7-~7.9-fold higher on beechwood and oat-spelt xylan than those of the enzymes Xyn, Xyn-C2, and C2-Xyn. The sandwich fusion evolved the xylanase with "armor-hands" to enhance simultaneously thermostability and activity in quality.

Structural Considerations on the Use of Endo-Xylanases for the Production of prebiotic Xylooligosaccharides from Biomass

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) have gained increased interest as prebiotics during the last years. XOS and arabinoxylooligosaccharides (AXOS) can be produced from major fractions of biomass including agricultural by-products and other low cost raw materials. Endo-xylanases are key enzymes for the production of (A)XOS from xylan. As the xylan structure is broadly diverse due to different substitutions, diverse endo-xylanases have evolved for its degradation. In this review structural and functional aspects are discussed, focusing on the potential applications of endo-xylanases in the production of differently substituted (A)XOS as emerging prebiotics, as well as their implication in the processing of the raw materials. Endo-xylanases are found in at least eight different glycoside hydrolase families (GH), and can either have a retaining or an inverting catalytic mechanism. To date, it is mainly retaining endo-xylanases that are used in applications to produce (A)XOS. Enzymes from these GH-families (mainly GH10 and GH11, and the more recently investigated GH30) are taken as prototypes to discuss substrate preferences and main products obtained. Finally, the need of new and accessory enzymes (new specificities from new families or sources) to increase the yield of different types of (A)XOS is discussed, along with in vitro tests of produced oligosaccharides and production of enzymes in GRAS organisms to facilitate use in functional food manufacturing.

Polysaccharide degradation systems of the saprophytic bacterium Cellvibrio japonicus

Study of recalcitrant polysaccharide degradation by bacterial systems is critical for understanding biological processes such as global carbon cycling, nutritional contributions of the human gut microbiome, and the production of renewable fuels and chemicals. One bacterium that has a robust ability to degrade polysaccharides is the Gram-negative saprophyte Cellvibrio japonicus. A bacterium with a circuitous history, C. japonicus underwent several taxonomy changes from an initially described Pseudomonas sp. Most of the enzymes described in the pre-genomics era have also been renamed. This review aims to consolidate the biochemical, structural, and genetic data published on C. japonicus and its remarkable ability to degrade cellulose, xylan, and pectin substrates. Initially, C. japonicus carbohydrate-active enzymes were studied biochemically and structurally for their novel polysaccharide binding and degradation characteristics, while more recent systems biology approaches have begun to unravel the complex regulation required for lignocellulose degradation in an environmental context. Also included is a discussion for the future of C. japonicus as a model system, with emphasis on current areas unexplored in terms of polysaccharide degradation and emerging directions for C. japonicus in both environmental and biotechnological applications.

Phylogenetic analysis of β-xylanase SRXL1 of Sporisorium reilianum and its relationship with families (GH10 and GH11) of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes

In this paper, the amino acid sequence of the β-xylanase SRXL1 of Sporisorium reilianum, which is a pathogenic fungus of maize was used as a model protein to find its phylogenetic relationship with other xylanases of Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes and the information obtained allowed to establish a hypothesis of monophyly and of biological role. 84 amino acid sequences of β-xylanase obtained from the GenBank database was used. Groupings analysis of higher-level in the Pfam database allowed to determine that the proteins under study were classified into the GH10 and GH11 families, based on the regions of highly conserved amino acids, 233-318 and 180-193 respectively, where glutamate residues are responsible for the catalysis.

Structural analysis of glucuronoxylan-specific Xyn30D and its attached CBM35 domain gives insights into the role of modularity in specificity

Glucuronoxylanase Xyn30D is a modular enzyme containing a family 30 glycoside hydrolase catalytic domain and an attached carbohydrate binding module of the CBM35 family. We present here the three-dimensional structure of the full-length Xyn30D at 2.4 Å resolution. The catalytic domain folds into an (α/β)8 barrel with an associated β-structure, whereas the attached CBM35 displays a jellyroll β-sandwich including two calcium ions. Although both domains fold in an independent manner, the linker region makes polar interactions with the catalytic domain, allowing a moderate flexibility. The ancillary Xyn30D-CBM35 domain has been expressed and crystallized, and its binding abilities have been investigated by soaking experiments. Only glucuronic acid-containing ligands produced complexes, and their structures have been solved. A calcium-dependent glucuronic acid binding site shows distinctive structural features as compared with other uronic acid-specific CBM35s, because the presence of two aromatic residues delineates a wider pocket. The nonconserved Glu(129) makes a bidentate link to calcium and defines region E, previously identified as specificity hot spot. The molecular surface of Xyn30D-CBM35 shows a unique stretch of negative charge distribution extending from its binding pocket that might indicate some oriented interaction with its target substrate. The binding ability of Xyn30D-CBM35 to different xylans was analyzed by affinity gel electrophoresis. Some binding was observed with rye glucuronoarabinoxylan in presence of calcium chelating EDTA, which would indicate that Xyn30D-CBM35 might establish interaction to other components of xylan, such as arabinose decorations of glucuronoarabinoxylan. A role in depolymerization of highly substituted chemically complex xylans is proposed.

Biochemical characterization and crystal structure of a GH10 xylanase from termite gut bacteria reveal a novel structural feature and significance of its bacterial Ig-like domain

Bacterial Ig-like (Big) domains are commonly distributed in glycoside hydrolases (GH), but their structure and function remains undefined. Xylanase is a GH, and catalyzes the hydrolysis of the internal β-xylosidic linkages of xylan. In this study, we report the molecular cloning, biochemical and biophysical characterization, and crystal structure of a termite gut bacterial xylanase, Xyl-ORF19, which was derived from gut bacteria of a wood-feeding termite (Globitermes brachycerastes). The protein architecture of Xyl-ORF19 reveals that it has two domains, a C-terminal GH10 catalytic domain and an N-terminal Big_2 non-catalytic domain. The catalytic domain folds in an (α/β)8 barrel as most GH10 xylanases do, but it has two extra β-strands. The non-catalytic domain is structurally similar to an immunoglobulin-like domain of intimins. The recombinant enzyme without the non-catalytic domain has fairly low catalytic activity, and is different from the full-length enzyme in kinetic parameters, pH and temperature profiles, which suggests the non-catalytic domain could affect the enzyme biochemical and biophysical properties as well as the role for enzyme localization. This study provides a molecular basis for future efforts in xylanase bioengineering.

Novel structural features of xylanase A1 from Paenibacillus sp. JDR-2

The Gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus sp. JDR-2 (PbJDR2) has been shown to have novel properties in the utilization of the abundant but chemically complex hemicellulosic sugar glucuronoxylan. Xylanase A1 of PbJDR2 (PbXynA1) has been implicated in an efficient process in which extracellular depolymerization of this polysaccharide is coupled to assimilation and intracellular metabolism. PbXynA1is a 154kDa cell wall anchored multimodular glycosyl hydrolase family 10 (GH10) xylanase. In this work, the 38kDa catalytic module of PbXynA1 has been structurally characterized revealing several new features not previously observed in structures of GH10 xylanases. These features are thought to facilitate hydrolysis of highly substituted, chemically complex xylans that may be the form found in close proximity to the cell wall of PbJDR2, an organism shown to have a preference for growth on polymeric glucuronoxylan.

Putting an N-terminal end to the Clostridium thermocellum xylanase Xyn10B story: crystal structure of the CBM22-1-GH10 modules complexed with xylohexaose

In general, plant cell wall degrading enzymes are modular proteins containing catalytic domains linked to one or more non-catalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). Xyn10B from Clostridium thermocellum is a typical modular enzyme containing an N-terminal family 22 CBM (CBM22-1), a family 10 glycoside hydrolase catalytic domain (GH10), a second CBM22 (CBM22-2), a dockerin sequence and a C-terminal family 1 carbohydrate esterase (CE1) catalytic domain. The structure of the N-terminal bi-modular CBM22-1-GH10 component of Xyn10B has been determined using a SeMet derivative by SAD to 2.5Å. The data was extended to 2.0Å for the non-SeMet mutant complexed with xylohexaose. CBM22-1-GH10 is a 60kDa protein with an E337A mutation to render the GH10 subunit inactive. Three of the six xylose residues of xylohexaose are shown to be bound in the inactivated GH10 substrate binding cleft, with the other three sugars presumably disordered in the solvent channel. The protein is a dimer in the asymmetric unit with extensive surface contacts between the two GH10 modules and between the CBM22-1 and GH10 modules. Residues from helix H4 of the GH10 module provide the major contacts by fitting into the minor groove of the CBM22-1 module. The orientation of CBM22-1 is such that it would allow the substrate to be loosely bound and subsequently delivered to the active site in a processive manner.

A family 10 Thermoascus aurantiacus xylanase utilizes arabinose decorations of xylan as significant substrate specificity determinants

Xylan, which is a key component of the plant cell wall, consists of a backbone of beta-1,4-linked xylose residues that are decorated with arabinofuranose, acetyl, 4-O-methyl d-glucuronic acid and ferulate. The backbone of xylan is hydrolysed by endo-beta1,4-xylanases (xylanases); however, it is unclear whether the various side-chains of the polysaccharide are utilized by these enzymes as significant substrate specificity determinants. To address this question we have determined the crystal structure of a family 10 xylanase from Thermoascus aurantiacus, in complex with xylobiose containing an arabinofuranosyl-ferulate side-chain. We show that the distal glycone subsite of the enzyme makes extensive direct and indirect interactions with the arabinose side-chain, while the ferulate moiety is solvent-exposed. Consistent with the 3D structural data, the xylanase displays fourfold more activity against xylotriose in which the non-reducing moiety is linked to an arabinose side-chain, compared to the undecorated form of the oligosacchairde. These data indicate that the sugar decorations of xylans in the T.aurantiacus family 10 xylanase, rather than simply being accommodated, can be significant substrate specificity determinants.

The role of conserved arginine residue in loop 4 of glycoside hydrolase family 10 xylanases

An arginine residue in loop 4 connecting beta strand 4 and alpha-helix 4 is conserved in glycoside hydrolase family 10 (GH10) xylanases. The arginine residues, Arg(204) in xylanase A from Bacillus halodurans C-125 (XynA) and Arg(196) in xylanase B from Clostridium stercorarium F9 (XynB), were replaced by glutamic acid, lysine, or glutamine residues (XynA R204E, K and Q, and XynB R196E, K and Q). The pH-k(cat)/K(m) and the pH-k(cat) relationships of these mutant enzymes were measured. The pK(e2) and pK(es2) values calculated from these curves were 8.59 and 8.29 (R204E), 8.59 and 8.10 (R204K), 8.61 and 8.19 (R204Q), 7.42 and 7.19 (R196E), 7.49 and 7.18 (R196K), and 7.86 and 7.38 (R196Q) respectively. Only the pK(es2) value of arginine derivatives was less than those of the wild types (8.49 and 9.39 [XynA] and 7.62 and 7.82 [XynB]). These results suggest that the conserved arginine residue in GH10 xylanases increases the pK(a) value of the proton donor Glu during substrate binding. The arginine residue is considered to clamp the proton donor and subsite +1 to prevent structural change during substrate binding.

Inactivated enzymes as probes of the structure of arabinoxylans as observed by atomic force microscopy

The complex structures of water-soluble wheat arabinoxylans have been mapped along individual molecules, and within populations, using the visualisation of the binding of inactivated enzymes by atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was demonstrated that site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) can be used to produce inactive enzymes as structural probes. For the SDM mutants AFM has been used to compare the binding of different xylanases to arabinoxylans. Xylanase mutant E386A, derived from the Xyn11A enzyme (Neocallimastrix patriciarium), was shown to bind randomly along arabinoxylan molecules. The xylanase binding was also monitored following Aspergillus niger arabinofuranosidase pre-treatment of samples. It was demonstrated that removal of arabinose side chains significantly altered the binding pattern of the inactivated enzyme. Xylanase mutant E246A, derived from the Xyn10A enzyme (Cellvibrio japonicus), was found to show deviations from random binding to the arabinoxylan chains. It is believed that this is due to the effect of a small residual catalytic activity of the enzyme that alters the binding pattern of the probe. Control procedures were developed and assessed to establish that the interactions between the modified xylanases and the arabinoxylans were specific interactions. The experimental data demonstrates the potential for using inactivated enzymes and AFM to probe the structural heterogeneity of individual polysaccharide molecules.

Crystal Complex Structures Reveal How Substrate is Bound in the −4 to the +2 Binding Sites of Humicola grisea Cel12A

As part of an ongoing enzyme discovery program to investigate the properties and catalytic mechanism of glycoside hydrolase family 12 (GH 12) endoglucanases, a GH family that contains several cellulases that are of interest in industrial applications, we have solved four new crystal structures of wild-type Humicola grisea Cel12A in complexes formed by soaking with cellobiose, cellotetraose, cellopentaose, and a thio-linked cellotetraose derivative (G2SG2). These complex structures allow mapping of the non-covalent interactions between the enzyme and the glucosyl chain bound in subsites -4 to +2 of the enzyme, and shed light on the mechanism and function of GH 12 cellulases. The unhydrolysed cellopentaose and the G2SG2 cello-oligomers span the active site of the catalytically active H.grisea Cel12A enzyme, with the pyranoside bound in subsite -1 displaying a S31 skew boat conformation. After soaking in cellotetraose, the cello-oligomer that is found bound in site -4 to -1 contains a beta-1,3-linkage between the two cellobiose units in the oligomer, which is believed to have been formed by a transglycosylation reaction that has occurred during the ligand soak of the protein crystals. The close fit of this ligand and the binding sites occupied suggest a novel mixed beta-glucanase activity for this enzyme.

The structure of endo-beta-1,4-galactanase from Bacillus licheniformis in complex with two oligosaccharide products

The beta-1,4-galactanase from Bacillus licheniformis (BLGAL) is a plant cell-wall-degrading enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of beta-1,4-galactan in the hairy regions of pectin. The crystal structure of BLGAL was determined by molecular replacement both alone and in complex with the products galactobiose and galactotriose, catching a first crystallographic glimpse of fragments of beta-1,4-galactan. As expected for an enzyme belonging to GH-53, the BLGAL structure reveals a (betaalpha)(8)-barrel architecture. However, BLGAL betaalpha-loops 2, 7 and 8 are long in contrast to the corresponding loops in structures of fungal galactanases determined previously. The structure of BLGAL additionally shows a calcium ion linking the long betaalpha-loops 7 and 8, which replaces a disulphide bridge in the fungal galactanases. Compared to the substrate-binding subsites predicted for Aspergillus aculeatus galactanase (AAGAL), two additional subsites for substrate binding are found in BLGAL, -3 and -4. A comparison of the pattern of galactan and galactooligosaccharides degradation by AAGAL and BLGAL shows that, although both are most active on substrates with a high degree of polymerization, AAGAL can degrade galactotriose and galactotetraose efficiently, whereas BLGAL prefers longer oligosaccharides and cannot hydrolyze galactotriose to any appreciable extent. This difference in substrate preference can be explained structurally by the presence of the extra subsites -3 and -4 in BLGAL.

Structure and function of a family 10 beta-xylanase chimera of Streptomyces olivaceoviridis E-86 FXYN and Cellulomonas fimi Cex

The catalytic domain of xylanases belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 10 (GH10) can be divided into 22 modules (M1 to M22; Sato, Y., Niimura, Y., Yura, K., and Go, M. (1999) Gene (Amst.) 238, 93-101). Inspection of the crystal structure of a GH10 xylanase from Streptomyces olivaceoviridis E-86 (SoXyn10A) revealed that the catalytic domain of GH10 xylanases can be dissected into two parts, an N-terminal larger region and C-terminal smaller region, by the substrate binding cleft, corresponding to the module border between M14 and M15. It has been suggested that the topology of the substrate binding clefts of GH10 xylanases are not conserved (Charnock, S. J., Spurway, T. D., Xie, H., Beylot, M. H., Virden, R., Warren, R. A. J., Hazlewood, G. P., and Gilbert, H. J. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 32187-32199). To facilitate a greater understanding of the structure-function relationship of the substrate binding cleft of GH10 xylanases, a chimeric xylanase between SoXyn10A and Xyn10A from Cellulomonas fimi (CfXyn10A) was constructed, and the topology of the hybrid substrate binding cleft established. At the three-dimensional level, SoXyn10A and CfXyn10A appear to possess 5 subsites, with the amino acid residues comprising subsites -3 to +1 being well conserved, although the +2 subsites are quite different. Biochemical analyses of the chimeric enzyme along with SoXyn10A and CfXyn10A indicated that differences in the structure of subsite +2 influence bond cleavage frequencies and the catalytic efficiency of xylooligosaccharide hydrolysis. The hybrid enzyme constructed in this study displays fascinating biochemistry, with an interesting combination of properties from the parent enzymes, resulting in a low production of xylose.

The mechanisms by which family 10 glycoside hydrolases bind decorated substrates

Endo-beta-1,4-xylanases (xylanases), which cleave beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds in the xylan backbone, are important components of the repertoire of enzymes that catalyze plant cell wall degradation. The mechanism by which these enzymes are able to hydrolyze a range of decorated xylans remains unclear. Here we reveal the three-dimensional structure, determined by x-ray crystallography, and the catalytic properties of the Cellvibrio mixtus enzyme Xyn10B (CmXyn10B), the most active GH10 xylanase described to date. The crystal structure of the enzyme in complex with xylopentaose reveals that at the +1 subsite the xylose moiety is sandwiched between hydrophobic residues, which is likely to mediate tighter binding than in other GH10 xylanases. The crystal structure of the xylanase in complex with a range of decorated xylooligosaccharides reveals how this enzyme is able to hydrolyze substituted xylan. Solvent exposure of the O-2 groups of xylose at the +4, +3, +1, and -3 subsites may allow accommodation of the alpha-1,2-linked 4-O-methyl-d-glucuronic acid side chain in glucuronoxylan at these locations. Furthermore, the uronic acid makes hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with the enzyme at the +1 subsite, indicating that the sugar decorations in glucuronoxylan are targeted to this proximal aglycone binding site. Accommodation of 3'-linked l-arabinofuranoside decorations is observed in the -2 subsite and could, most likely, be tolerated when bound to xylosides in -3 and +4. A notable feature of the binding mode of decorated substrates is the way in which the subsite specificities are tailored both to prevent the formation of "dead-end" reaction products and to facilitate synergy with the xylan degradation-accessory enzymes such as alpha-glucuronidase. The data described in this report and in the accompanying paper indicate that the complementarity in the binding of decorated substrates between the glycone and aglycone regions appears to be a conserved feature of GH10 xylanases.

The 1.62 A structure of Thermoascus aurantiacus endoglucanase: completing the structural picture of subfamilies in glycoside hydrolase family 5

The crystal structure of Thermoascus aurantiacus endoglucanase (Cel5A), a family 5 glycoside hydrolase, has been determined to 1.62 A resolution by multiple isomorphous replacement with anomalous scattering. It is the first report of a structure in the subfamily to which Cel5A belongs. Cel5A consists solely of a catalytic module with compact eight-fold beta/alpha barrel architecture. The length of the tryptophan-rich substrate binding groove suggests the presence of substrate binding subsites -4 to +3. Structural comparison shows that two glycines are completely conserved in the family, in addition to the two catalytic glutamates and six other conserved residues previously identified. Gly 44 in particular is part of a type IV C-terminal helix capping motif, whose disruption is likely to affect the position of an essential conserved arginine. One aromatic residue (Trp 170 in Cel5A), not conserved in term of sequence, is nonetheless spatially conserved in the substrate binding groove. Its role might be to force the bend that occurs in the polysaccharide chain on binding, thus favoring substrate distortion at subsite -1.

Crystal structures of the sugar complexes of Streptomyces olivaceoviridis E-86 xylanase: sugar binding structure of the family 13 carbohydrate binding module

The family 10 xylanase from Streptomyces olivaceoviridis E-86 contains a (beta/alpha)(8)-barrel as a catalytic domain, a family 13 carbohydrate binding module (CBM) as a xylan binding domain (XBD) and a Gly/Pro-rich linker between them. The crystal structure of this enzyme showed that XBD has three similar subdomains, as indicated by the presence of a triple-repeated sequence, forming a galactose binding lectin fold similar to that found in the ricin toxin B-chain. Comparison with the structure of ricin/lactose complex suggests three potential sugar binding sites in XBD. In order to understand how XBD binds to the xylan chain, we analyzed the sugar-complex structure by the soaking experiment method using the xylooligosaccharides and other sugars. In the catalytic cleft, bound sugars were observed in the xylobiose and xylotriose complex structures. In the XBD, bound sugars were identified in subdomains alpha and gamma in all of the complexes with xylose, xylobiose, xylotriose, glucose, galactose and lactose. XBD binds xylose or xylooligosaccharides at the same sugar binding sites as in the case of the ricin/lactose complex but its binding manner for xylose and xylooligosaccharides is different from the galactose binding mode in ricin, even though XBD binds galactose in the same manner as in the ricin/galactose complex. These different binding modes are utilized efficiently and differently to bind the long substrate to xylanase and ricin-type lectin. XBD can bind any xylose in the xylan backbone, whereas ricin-type lectin recognizes the terminal galactose to sandwich the large sugar chain, even though the two domains have the same family 13 CBM structure. Family 13 CBM has rather loose and broad sugar specificities and is used by some kinds of proteins to bind their target sugars. In such enzyme, XBD binds xylan, and the catalytic domain may assume a flexible position with respect to the XBD/xylan complex, inasmuch as the linker region is unstructured.

Substrate specificity and subsite mobility in T. aurantiacus xylanase 10A

The substrate specificity of Thermoascus aurantiacus xylanase 10A (TAX) has been investigated both biochemically and structurally. High resolution crystallographic analyses at 291 K and 100 K of TAX complexes with xylobiose show that the ligand is in its alpha anomeric conformation and provide a rationale for specificity on p-nitrophenyl glycosides at the -1 and -2 subsites. Trp 275, which is disordered in uncomplexed structures, is stabilised by its interaction with xylobiose. Two structural subsets in family 10 are identified, which differ by the presence or absence of a short helical stretch in the eighth betaalpha-loop of the TIM barrel, the loop bearing Trp 275. This structural difference is discussed in the context of Trp 275 mobility and xylanase function.