Functional expression of a thermophilic glucuronyl esterase from Sporotrichum thermophile: identification of the nucleophilic serine

Efficient activity screening of new glucuronoyl esterases using a pNP-based assay

Glucuronoyl esterases (CE15, EC 3.1.1.117) catalyze the hydrolysis of ester bonds between lignin and carbohydrates in lignocellulose. They are widespread within fungi and bacteria, and are subjects to research interest due to their potential applicability in lignocellulose processing. Identifying new and relevant glucuronoyl esterase candidates is challenging because available model substrates poorly represent the natural substrate, which leads to inefficient screening for the activity. In this study, we demonstrate how fifteen novel, fungal, putative glucuronoyl esterases from family CE15 were expressed and screened for activity towards a commercially available, colorimetric assay based on the methyl-ester of 4-O-methyl-aldotriuronic acid linked to para-nitrophenol (methyl ester-UX-β-pNP) and coupled with the activity of GH67 (α-glucuronidase) and GH43 (β-xylosidase) activity. The assay provides easy means for accurately establishing activity and determining specific activity of glucuronoyl esterases. Out of the fifteen expressed CE15 proteins, seven are active and were purified to determine their specific activity. The seven active enzymes originate from Auricularia subglabra (3 proteins), Ganoderma sinensis (2 proteins) and Neocallimastix californiae (2 proteins). Among the CE15 proteins not active towards the screening substrate (methyl ester-UX-β-pNP) were proteins originating from Schizophyllum commune, Podospora anserina, Trametes versicolor, and Coprinopsis cinerea. It is unexpected that CE15 proteins from such canonical lignocellulose degraders do not have the anticipated activity, and these observations call for deeper investigations.

New Labeled PET Analogues Enable the Functional Screening and Characterization of PET-Degrading Enzymes

The discovery and engineering of novel biocatalysts capable of depolymerizing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) have gained significant attention since the need for green technologies to combat plastic pollution has become increasingly urgent. This study focuses on the development of novel substrates that can indicate enzymes with PET hydrolytic activity, streamlining the process of enzyme evaluation and selection. Four novel substrates, mimicking the structure of PET, were chemically synthesized and labeled with fluorogenic or chromogenic moieties, enabling the direct analysis of candidate enzymes without complex preparatory or analysis steps. The fluorogenic substrates, mUPET1, mUPET2, and mUPET3, not only identify enzymes capable of PET breakdown but also differentiate those with exceptional performance on the polymer, such as the benchmark PETase, LCCICCG. Among the substrates, the chromogenic p-NPhPET3 stands out as a reliable tool for screening both pure and crude enzymes, offering advantages over fluorogenic substrates such as ease of assay using UV-vis spectroscopy and compatibility with crude enzyme samples. However, ferulic acid esterases and mono-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate esterases (MHETases), which exhibit remarkably high affinity for PET oligomers, also show high catalytic activity on these substrates. The substrates introduced in this study hold significant value in the function-based screening and characterization of enzymes that degrade PET, as well as the the potential to be used in screening mutant libraries derived from directed evolution experiments. Following this approach, a rapid and dependable assay method can be carried out using basic laboratory infrastructure, eliminating the necessity for intricate preparatory procedures before analysis.

Transesterification with CE15 glucuronoyl esterase from Cerrena unicolor reveals substrate preferences

PURPOSE

Glucuronoyl esterases (GE, family CE15) catalyse the cleavage of ester linkages in lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs), and this study demonstrate how transesterification reactions with a fungal GE from Cerrena unicolor (CuGE) can reveal the enzyme's preference for the alcohol-part of the ester-bond.

METHODS

This alcohol-preference relates to where the ester-LCCs are located on the lignin molecule, and has consequences for how the enzymes potentially interact with lignin. It is unknown exactly what the enzymes prefer; either the α-benzyl or the γ-benzyl position. By providing the enzyme with a donor substrate (the methyl ester of either glucuronate or 4-O-methyl-glucuronate) and either one of two acceptor molecules (benzyl alcohol or 3-phenyl-1-propanol) we demonstrate that the enzyme can perform transesterification and it serves as a method for assessing the enzyme's alcohol preferences.

CONCLUSION

CuGE preferentially forms the γ-ester from the methyl ester of 4-O-methyl-glucuronate and 3-phenyl-1-propanol and the enzyme's substrate preferences are primarily dictated by the presence of the 4-O-methylation on the glucuronoyl donor, and secondly on the type of alcohol.

Polysaccharide utilization loci from Bacteroidota encode CE15 enzymes with possible roles in cleaving pectin-lignin bonds

Lignocellulose is a renewable but complex material exhibiting high recalcitrance to enzymatic hydrolysis, which is attributed, in part, to the presence of covalent linkages between lignin and polysaccharides in the plant cell wall. Glucuronoyl esterases from carbohydrate esterase family 15 (CE15) have been proposed as an aid in reducing this recalcitrance by cleaving ester bonds found between lignin and glucuronoxylan. In the Bacteroidota phylum, some species organize genes related to carbohydrate metabolism in polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) which encode all necessary proteins to bind, deconstruct, and respond to a target glycan. Bioinformatic analyses identified CE15 members in some PULs that appear to not target the expected glucuronoxylan. Here, five CE15 members from such PULs were investigated with the aim of gaining insights on their biological roles. The selected targets were characterized using glucuronoyl esterase model substrates and with a new synthetic molecule mimicking a putative ester linkage between pectin and lignin. The CE15 enzyme from Phocaeicola vulgatus was structurally determined by X-ray crystallography both with and without carbohydrate ligands with galacturonate binding in a distinct conformation than that of glucuronate. We further explored whether these CE15 enzymes could act akin to pectin methylesterases on pectin-rich biomass but did not find evidence to support the proposed activity. Based on the evidence gathered, the CE15 enzymes in the PULs expected to degrade pectin could be involved in cleavage of uronic acid esters in rhamnogalacturonans.IMPORTANCEThe plant cell wall is a highly complex matrix, and while most of its polymers interact non-covalently, there are also covalent bonds between lignin and carbohydrates. Bonds between xylan and lignin are known, such as the glucuronoyl ester bonds that are cleavable by CE15 enzymes. Our work here indicates that enzymes from CE15 may also have other activities, as we have discovered enzymes in PULs proposed to target other polysaccharides, including pectin. Our study represents the first investigation of such enzymes. Our first hypothesis that the enzymes would act as pectin methylesterases was shown to be false, and we instead propose that they may cleave other esters on complex pectins such as rhamnogalacturonan II. The work presents both the characterization of five novel enzymes and can also provide indirect information about the components of the cell wall itself, which is a highly challenging material to chemically analyze in fine detail.

New insights to diversity and enzyme-substrate interactions of fungal glucuronoyl esterases

Glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) (EC 3.1.1.117) catalyze the cleavage of ester-linked lignin-carbohydrate complexes that has high impact on the plant cell wall integrity. The GEs are among the very few known types of hydrolytic enzymes that act at the interface of lignin, or which may potentially interact with lignin itself. In this review, we provide the latest update of the current knowledge on GEs with a special focus on the fungal variants. In addition, we have established the phylogenetic relationship between all GEs and this reveals that the fungal enzymes largely fall into one major branch, together with only a minor subset of bacterial enzymes. About 22% of the fungal proteins carry an additional domain, which is almost exclusively a CBM1 binding domain. We address how GEs may interact with the lignin-side of their substrate by molecular docking experiments based on the known structure of the Cerrena unicolor GE (CuGE). The docking studies indicate that there are no direct interactions between the enzyme and the lignin polymer, that the lignin-moiety is facing away from the protein surface and that an elongated carbon-chain between the ester-linkage and the first phenyl of lignin is preferable. Much basic research on these enzymes has been done over the past 15 years, but the next big step forward for these enzymes is connected to application and how these enzymes can facilitate the use of lignocellulose as a renewable resource. KEY POINTS: Fungal GEs are closely related and are sometimes linked to a binding module Molecular docking suggests good accommodation of lignin-like substructures GEs could be among the first expressed enzymes during fungal growth on biomass.

Mechanism and biomass association of glucuronoyl esterase: an α/β hydrolase with potential in biomass conversion

Glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) are α/β serine hydrolases and a relatively new addition in the toolbox to reduce the recalcitrance of lignocellulose, the biggest obstacle in cost-effective utilization of this important renewable resource. While biochemical and structural characterization of GEs have progressed greatly recently, there have yet been no mechanistic studies shedding light onto the rate-limiting steps relevant for biomass conversion. The bacterial GE OtCE15A possesses a classical yet distinctive catalytic machinery, with easily identifiable catalytic Ser/His completed by two acidic residues (Glu and Asp) rather than one as in the classical triad, and an Arg side chain participating in the oxyanion hole. By QM/MM calculations, we identified deacylation as the decisive step in catalysis, and quantified the role of Asp, Glu and Arg, showing the latter to be particularly important. The results agree well with experimental and structural data. We further calculated the free-energy barrier of post-catalysis dissociation from a complex natural substrate, suggesting that in industrial settings non-catalytic processes may constitute the rate-limiting step, and pointing to future directions for enzyme engineering in biomass utilization.

Zong and coworkers combine computational and experimental methods to decipher in detail the mechanism of action of glucuronoyl esterases, enzymes with significant biotechnological potential for decoupling lignin from polysaccharides in biomass.

Recent advances on key enzymatic activities for the utilisation of lignocellulosic biomass

The field of enzymatic degradation of lignocellulose is actively growing and the recent updates of the last few years indicate that there is still much to learn. The growing number of protein sequences with unknown function in microbial genomes indicates that there is still much to learn on the mechanisms of lignocellulose degradation. In this review, a summary of the progress in the field is presented, including recent discoveries on the nature of the structural polysaccharides, new technologies for the discovery and functional annotation of gene sequences including omics technologies, and the novel lignocellulose-acting enzymes described. Novel enzymatic activities and enzyme families as well as accessory enzymes and their synergistic relationships regarding biomass breakdown are described. Moreover, it is shown that all the valuable knowledge of the enzymatic decomposition of plant biomass polymers can be employed towards the decomposition and upgrading of synthetic polymers, such as plastics.

Characterization of a novel multidomain CE15-GH8 enzyme encoded by a polysaccharide utilization locus in the human gut bacterium Bacteroides eggerthii

Bacteroidetes are efficient degraders of complex carbohydrates, much thanks to their use of polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs). An integral part of PULs are highly specialized carbohydrate-active enzymes, sometimes composed of multiple linked domains with discrete functions—multicatalytic enzymes. We present the biochemical characterization of a multicatalytic enzyme from a large PUL encoded by the gut bacterium Bacteroides eggerthii. The enzyme, BeCE15A-Rex8A, has a rare and novel architecture, with an N-terminal carbohydrate esterase family 15 (CE15) domain and a C-terminal glycoside hydrolase family 8 (GH8) domain. The CE15 domain was identified as a glucuronoyl esterase (GE), though with relatively poor activity on GE model substrates, attributed to key amino acid substitutions in the active site compared to previously studied GEs. The GH8 domain was shown to be a reducing-end xylose-releasing exo-oligoxylanase (Rex), based on having activity on xylooligosaccharides but not on longer xylan chains. The full-length BeCE15A-Rex8A enzyme and the Rex domain were capable of boosting the activity of a commercially available GH11 xylanase on corn cob biomass. Our research adds to the understanding of multicatalytic enzyme architectures and showcases the potential of discovering novel and atypical carbohydrate-active enzymes from mining PULs.

The structural basis of fungal glucuronoyl esterase activity on natural substrates

Structural and functional studies were conducted of the glucuronoyl esterase (GE) from Cerrena unicolor (CuGE), an enzyme catalyzing cleavage of lignin-carbohydrate ester bonds. CuGE is an α/β-hydrolase belonging to carbohydrate esterase family 15 (CE15). The enzyme is modular, comprised of a catalytic and a carbohydrate-binding domain. SAXS data show CuGE as an elongated rigid molecule where the two domains are connected by a rigid linker. Detailed structural information of the catalytic domain in its apo- and inactivated form and complexes with aldouronic acids reveal well-defined binding of the 4-O-methyl-a-D-glucuronoyl moiety, not influenced by the nature of the attached xylo-oligosaccharide. Structural and sequence comparisons within CE15 enzymes reveal two distinct structural subgroups. CuGE belongs to the group of fungal CE15-B enzymes with an open and flat substrate-binding site. The interactions between CuGE and its natural substrates are explained and rationalized by the structural results, microscale thermophoresis and isothermal calorimetry.

Scalable methanol-free production of recombinant glucuronoyl esterase in Pichia pastoris

OBJECTIVE

Glucuronoyl esterase (GE) is an emerging enzyme that improves fractionation of lignin-carbohydrate complexes. However, the commercial availability of GE is limited, which hinders the research of GE-based bioprocesses for its industrial application in lignocellulose biorefineries. This study evaluated a workable, cost-effective, and commercially scalable production strategy to improve the ease of GE-based research. This strategy consisted of a constitutive and methanol-free enzyme production step coupled with a two-step filtration process. The aim was to determine if this strategy can yield copious amounts of GE, by secretion into the extracellular medium with an acceptable purity that could allow its direct application. This approach was further validated for cellobiose dehydrogenase, another emerging lignocellulose degrading enzyme which is scarcely available at high cost.

RESULTS

The secreted recombinant enzymes were functionally produced in excess of levels previously reported for constitutive production (1489-2780 mg L^-1), and were secreted at moderate to high percentages of the total extracellular protein (51-94%). The constant glycerol feed, implemented during fed-batch fermentation, lead to a decline in growth rate and plateaued productivity. Tangential flow ultrafiltration was used to concentrate cell-free enzyme extracts 5-6-fold, reaching enzyme activity levels (1020-202 U L^-1) that could allow their direct application.

Thermophilic enzyme systems for efficient conversion of lignocellulose to valuable products: Structural insights and future perspectives for esterases and oxidative catalysts

Thermophilic enzyme systems are of major importance nowadays in all industrial processes due to their great performance at elevated temperatures. In the present review, an overview of the current knowledge on the properties of thermophilic and thermotolerant carbohydrate esterases and oxidative enzymes with great thermostability is provided, with respect to their potential use in biotechnological applications. A special focus is given to the lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases that are able to oxidatively cleave lignocellulose through the use of oxygen or hydrogen peroxide as co-substrate and a reducing agent as electron donor. Structural characteristics of the enzymes, including active site conformation and surface properties are discussed and correlated with their substrate specificity and thermostability properties.

Enzyme kinetics of fungal glucuronoyl esterases on natural lignin-carbohydrate complexes

Glucuronoyl esterases (CE15 family) enable targeted cleavage of ester linkages in lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs), particularly those linking lignin and glucuronoyl residues in xylan. A substantial challenge in characterization and kinetic analysis of CE15 enzymes has been the lack of proper substrates. Here, we present an assay using an insoluble LCC-rich lignin fraction from birch; lignin-rich pellet (LRP). The assay employs quantification of enzyme reaction products by LC-MS. The kinetics of four fungal CE15 enzymes, PsGE, CuGE, TtGE, and AfuGE originating from lignocellulose-degrading fungi Punctularia strigosozonata, Cerrena unicolor, Thielavia terrestris, and Armillaria fuscipes respectively were characterized and compared using this new assay. All four enzymes had activity on LRP and showed a clear preference for the insoluble substrate compared with smaller soluble LCC mimicking esters. End-product profiles were near identical for the four enzymes but differences in kinetic parameters were observed. TtGE possesses an alternative active site compared with the three other enzymes as it has the position of the catalytic glutamic acid occupied by a serine. TtGE performed poorly compared with the other enzymes. We speculate that glucuronoyl LCCs are not the preferred substrate of TtGE. Removal of an N-terminal CBM on CuGE affected the catalytic efficiently of the enzyme by reducing K_cat by more than 30%. Reaction products were detected from all four CE15s on a similar substrate from spruce indicating a more generic GE activity not limited to the hardwood. The assay with natural substrate represents a novel tool to study the natural function and kinetics of CE15s.

Structure-function analyses reveal that a glucuronoyl esterase from Teredinibacter turnerae interacts with carbohydrates and aromatic compounds

Glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) catalyze the cleavage of ester linkages found between lignin and glucuronic acid moieties on glucuronoxylan in plant biomass. As such, GEs represent promising biochemical tools in industrial processing of these recalcitrant resources. However, details on how GEs interact with their natural substrates are sparse, calling for thorough structure-function studies. Presented here is the structure and biochemical characterization of a GE, TtCE15A, from the bacterium Teredinibacter turnerae, a symbiont of wood-boring shipworms. To gain deeper insight into enzyme-substrate interactions, inhibition studies were performed with both the WT TtCE15A and variants in which we, by using site-directed mutagenesis, substituted residues suggested to have key roles in binding to or interacting with the aromatic and carbohydrate structures of its uronic acid ester substrates. Our results support the hypothesis that two aromatic residues (Phe-174 and Trp-376), conserved in bacterial GEs, interact with aromatic and carbohydrate structures of these substrates in the enzyme active site, respectively. The solved crystal structure of TtCE15A revealed features previously not observed in either fungal or bacterial GEs, with a large inserted N-terminal region neighboring the active site and a differently positioned residue of the catalytic triad. The findings highlight key interactions between GEs and complex lignin-carbohydrate ester substrates and advance our understanding of the substrate specificities of these enzymes in biomass conversion.

Classification of fungal glucuronoyl esterases (FGEs) and characterization of two new FGEs from Ceriporiopsis subvermispora and Pleurotus eryngii

Fungal glucuronoyl esterases (FGEs) catalyze cleavage of the ester bond connecting a lignin alcohol to the xylan-bound 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid of glucuronoxylans. Thus, FGEs are capable of degrading lignin-carbohydrate complexes and have potential for biotechnological applications toward woody biomass utilization. Therefore, identification and characterization of new FGEs are of critical importance. Firstly, in this study, we built a phylogenetic tree from almost 400 putative FGEs obtained on BLAST analysis and defined six main clades. In the phylogenetic tree, all the putative FGEs of ascomycetes cluster in clades I to IV, and most of the putative FGEs of basidiomycetes (B-FGEs) cluster in clades V to VI. Interestingly, several B-FGEs were found to cluster in clade II; most FGEs of clade II were found to have higher theoretical isoelectric points than those in the other five clades. To gain an insight into the putative FGEs in the clades that have not been characterized yet, we chose the FGEs of Ceriporiopsis subvermispora (CsGE) and Pleurotus eryngii (PeGE), which belong to clades V and II, respectively. The catalytic domains of both CsGE and PeGE were successfully expressed using Pichia pastoris, and then purified. Benzyl glucuronic acid was used as a substrate to confirm the activities of the CsGE and PeGE, and the hydrolyzed product, glucuronic acid, was quantified spectrophotometrically. Both CsGE and PeGE clearly exhibited the esterase activity. Additionally, we demonstrated that PeGE exhibits high tolerance toward several denaturing agents, which may make it a potentially more applicable enzyme.

Glucuronoyl esterases: diversity, properties and biotechnological potential. A review

Glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) belonging to the carbohydrate esterase family 15 (CE15) are involved in microbial degradation of lignocellulosic plant materials. GEs are capable of degrading complex polymers of lignin and hemicellulose cleaving ester bonds between glucuronic acid residues in xylan and lignin alcohols. GEs promote separation of lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose which is crucial for efficient utilization of biomass as an energy source and feedstock for further processing into products or chemicals. Genes encoding GEs are found in both fungi and bacteria, but, so far, bacterial GEs are essentially unexplored, and despite being discovered >10 years ago, only a limited number of GEs have been characterized. The first laboratory scale example of improved xylose and glucuronic acid release by the synergistic action of GE with cellulolytic enzymes was only reported recently (improved C5 sugar and glucuronic acid yields) and, until now, not much is known about their biotechnology potential. In this review, we discuss the diversity, structure and properties of microbial GEs and consider the status of their action on natural substrates and in biological systems in relation to their future industrial use.

A novel glucuronoyl esterase from Aspergillus fumigatus-the role of conserved Lys residue in the preference for 4-O-methyl glucuronoyl esters

Cellulose in plant cell walls is mainly covered by hemicellulose and lignin, and thus efficient removal of these components is thought to be a key step in the optimal utilization of lignocellulose. The recently discovered carbohydrate esterase (CE) 15 family of glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) which cleave the linkages between the free carboxyl group of D-glucuronic acid in hemicellulose and the benzyl groups in lignin residues could contribute to this process. Herein, we report the identification, functional expression, and enzymatic characterization of a GE, AfGE, from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. AfGE was heterologously expressed in Aspergillus oryzae, and the purified enzyme displayed the ability to degrade the synthetic substrates mimicking the ester linkage between hemicellulose and lignin. AfGE is a potentially industrially applicable enzyme due to its characteristic as a thermophilic enzyme with the favorable temperature of 40-50 °C at pH 5. Molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis studies of AfGE demonstrated that Lys209 plays an important role in the preference for the substrates containing 4-O-methyl group in the glucopyranose ring.

Biochemical and structural features of diverse bacterial glucuronoyl esterases facilitating recalcitrant biomass conversion

BACKGROUND

Lignocellulose is highly recalcitrant to enzymatic deconstruction, where the recalcitrance primarily results from chemical linkages between lignin and carbohydrates. Glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) from carbohydrate esterase family 15 (CE15) have been suggested to play key roles in reducing lignocellulose recalcitrance by cleaving covalent ester bonds found between lignin and glucuronoxylan. However, only a limited number of GEs have been biochemically characterized and structurally determined to date, limiting our understanding of these enzymes and their potential exploration.

RESULTS

Ten CE15 enzymes from three bacterial species, sharing as little as 20% sequence identity, were characterized on a range of model substrates; two protein structures were solved, and insights into their regulation and biological roles were gained through gene expression analysis and enzymatic assays on complex biomass. Several enzymes with higher catalytic efficiencies on a wider range of model substrates than previously characterized fungal GEs were identified. Similarities and differences regarding substrate specificity between the investigated GEs were observed and putatively linked to their positioning in the CE15 phylogenetic tree. The bacterial GEs were able to utilize substrates lacking 4-OH methyl substitutions, known to be important for fungal enzymes. In addition, certain bacterial GEs were able to efficiently cleave esters of galacturonate, a functionality not previously described within the family. The two solved structures revealed similar overall folds to known structures, but also indicated active site regions allowing for more promiscuous substrate specificities. The gene expression analysis demonstrated that bacterial GE-encoding genes were differentially expressed as response to different carbon sources. Further, improved enzymatic saccharification of milled corn cob by a commercial lignocellulolytic enzyme cocktail when supplemented with GEs showcased their synergistic potential with other enzyme types on native biomass.

CONCLUSIONS

Bacterial GEs exhibit much larger diversity than fungal counterparts. In this study, we significantly expanded the existing knowledge on CE15 with the in-depth characterization of ten bacterial GEs broadly spanning the phylogenetic tree, and also presented two novel enzyme structures. Variations in transcriptional responses of CE15-encoding genes under different growth conditions suggest nonredundant functions for enzymes found in species with multiple CE15 genes and further illuminate the importance of GEs in native lignin-carbohydrate disassembly.

Structural insight into a CE15 esterase from the marine bacterial metagenome

The family 15 carbohydrate esterase (CE15) MZ0003, which derives from a marine Arctic metagenome, has a broader substrate scope than other members of this family. Here we report the crystal structure of MZ0003, which reveals that residues comprising the catalytic triad differ from previously-characterized fungal homologs, and resolves three large loop regions that are unique to this bacterial sub-clade. The catalytic triad of the bacterial CE15, which includes Asp 332 as its third member, closely resembles that of family 1 carbohydrate esterases (CE1), despite the overall lower structural similarity with members of this family. Two of the three loop regions form a subdomain that deepens the active site pocket and includes several basic residues that contribute to the high positive charge surrounding the active site. Docking simulations predict specific interactions with the sugar moiety of glucuronic-acid substrates, and with aromatically-substituted derivatives that serve as model compounds for the lignin-carbohydrate complex of plant cell walls. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate considerable flexibility of the sub-domain in the substrate-bound form, suggesting plasticity to accommodate different substrates is possible. The findings from this first reported structure of a bacterial member of the CE15 family provide insight into the basis of its broader substrate specificity.

Characterisation of three fungal glucuronoyl esterases on glucuronic acid ester model compounds

The glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) that have been identified so far belong to family 15 of the carbohydrate esterases in the CAZy classification system and are presumed to target ester bonds between lignin alcohols and (4-O-methyl-)d-glucuronic acid residues of xylan. Few GEs have been cloned, expressed and characterised to date. Characterisation has been done on a variety of synthetic substrates; however, the number of commercially available substrates is very limited. We identified novel putative GEs from a wide taxonomic range of fungi and expressed the enzymes originating from Acremonium alcalophilum and Wolfiporia cocos as well as the previously described PcGE1 from Phanerochaete chrysosporium. All three fungal GEs were active on the commercially available compounds benzyl glucuronic acid (BnGlcA), allyl glucuronic acid (allylGlcA) and to a lower degree on methyl glucuronic acid (MeGlcA). The enzymes showed pH stability over a wide pH range and tolerated 6-h incubations of up to 50 °C. Kinetic parameters were determined for BnGlcA. This study shows the suitability of the commercially available model compounds BnGlcA, MeGlcA and allylGlcA in GE activity screening and characterisation experiments. We enriched the spectrum of characterised GEs with two new members of a relatively young enzyme family. Due to its biotechnological significance, this family deserves to be more extensively studied. The presented enzymes are promising candidates as auxiliary enzymes to improve saccharification of plant biomass.

A New Functional Classification of Glucuronoyl Esterases by Peptide Pattern Recognition

Glucuronoyl esterases are a novel type of enzymes believed to catalyze the hydrolysis of ester linkages between lignin and glucuronoxylan in lignocellulosic biomass, linkages known as lignin carbohydrate complexes. These complexes contribute to the recalcitrance of lignocellulose. Glucuronoyl esterases are a part of the microbial machinery for lignocellulose degradation and coupling their role to the occurrence of lignin carbohydrate complexes in biomass is a desired research goal. Glucuronoyl esterases have been assigned to CAZymes family 15 of carbohydrate esterases, but only few examples of characterized enzymes exist and the exact activity is still uncertain. Here peptide pattern recognition is used as a bioinformatic tool to identify and group new CE15 proteins that are likely to have glucuronoyl esterase activity. 1024 CE15-like sequences were drawn from GenBank and grouped into 24 groups. Phylogenetic analysis of these groups made it possible to pinpoint groups of putative fungal and bacterial glucuronoyl esterases and their sequence variation. Moreover, a number of groups included previously undescribed CE15-like sequences that are distinct from the glucuronoyl esterases and may possibly have different esterase activity. Hence, the CE15 family is likely to comprise other enzyme functions than glucuronoyl esterase alone. Gene annotation in a variety of fungal and bacterial microorganisms showed that coprophilic fungi are rich and diverse sources of CE15 proteins. Combined with the lifestyle and habitat of coprophilic fungi, they are predicted to be excellent candidates for finding new glucuronoyl esterase genes.

Microbial Glucuronoyl Esterases: 10 Years after Discovery

A carbohydrate esterase called glucuronoyl esterase (GE) was discovered 10 years ago in a cellulolytic system of the wood-rotting fungus Schizophyllum commune Genes coding for GEs were subsequently found in a number of microbial genomes, and a new family of carbohydrate esterases (CE15) has been established. The multidomain structures of GEs, together with their catalytic properties on artificial substrates and positive effect on enzymatic saccharification of plant biomass, led to the view that the esterases evolved for hydrolysis of the ester linkages between 4-O-methyl-d-glucuronic acid of plant glucuronoxylans and lignin alcohols, one of the crosslinks in the plant cell walls. This idea of the function of GEs is further supported by the effects of cloning of fungal GEs in plants and by very recently reported evidence for changes in the size of isolated lignin-carbohydrate complexes due to uronic acid de-esterification. These facts make GEs interesting candidates for biotechnological applications in plant biomass processing and genetic modification of plants. This article is a brief summary of current knowledge of these relatively recent and unexplored esterases.

A glucuronoyl esterase from Acremonium alcalophilum cleaves native lignin-carbohydrate ester bonds

The Glucuronoyl esterases (GE) have been proposed to target lignin-carbohydrate (LC) ester bonds between lignin moieties and glucuronic acid side groups of xylan, but to date, no direct observations of enzymatic cleavage on native LC ester bonds have been demonstrated. In the present investigation, LCC fractions from spruce and birch were treated with a recombinantly produced GE originating from Acremonium alcalophilum (AaGE1). A combination of size exclusion chromatography and (31) P NMR analyses of phosphitylated LCC samples, before and after AaGE1 treatment provided the first evidence for cleavage of the LC ester linkages existing in wood.

Biochemical Characterization of a Family 15 Carbohydrate Esterase from a Bacterial Marine Arctic Metagenome

Background

The glucuronoyl esterase enzymes of wood-degrading fungi (Carbohydrate Esterase family 15; CE15) form part of the hemicellulolytic and cellulolytic enzyme systems that break down plant biomass, and have possible applications in biotechnology. Homologous enzymes are predicted in the genomes of several bacteria, however these have been much less studied than their fungal counterparts. Here we describe the recombinant production and biochemical characterization of a bacterial CE15 enzyme denoted MZ0003, which was identified by in silico screening of a prokaryotic metagenome library derived from marine Arctic sediment. MZ0003 has high similarity to several uncharacterized gene products of polysaccharide-degrading bacterial species, and phylogenetic analysis indicates a deep evolutionary split between these CE15s and fungal homologs.

Results

MZ0003 appears to differ from previously-studied CE15s in some aspects. Some glucuronoyl esterase activity could be measured by qualitative thin-layer chromatography which confirms its assignment as a CE15, however MZ0003 can also hydrolyze a range of other esters, including p-nitrophenyl acetate, which is not acted upon by some fungal homologs. The structure of MZ0003 also appears to differ as it is predicted to have several large loop regions that are absent in previously studied CE15s, and a combination of homology-based modelling and site-directed mutagenesis indicate its catalytic residues deviate from the conserved Ser-His-Glu triad of many fungal CE15s. Taken together, these results indicate that potentially unexplored diversity exists among bacterial CE15s, and this may be accessed by investigation of the microbial metagenome. The combination of low activity on typical glucuronoyl esterase substrates, and the lack of glucuronic acid esters in the marine environment suggest that the physiological substrate of MZ0003 and its homologs is likely to be different from that of related fungal enzymes.

Glucuronoyl Esterase Screening and Characterization Assays Utilizing Commercially Available Benzyl Glucuronic Acid Ester

Research on glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) has been hampered by the lack of enzyme assays based on easily obtainable substrates. While benzyl d-glucuronic acid ester (BnGlcA) is a commercially available substrate that can be used for GE assays, several considerations regarding substrate instability, limited solubility and low apparent affinities should be made. In this work we discuss the factors that are important when using BnGlcA for assaying GE activity and show how these can be applied when designing BnGlcA-based GE assays for different applications: a thin-layer chromatography assay for qualitative activity detection, a coupled-enzyme spectrophotometric assay that can be used for high-throughput screening or general activity determinations and a HPLC-based detection method allowing kinetic determinations. The three-level experimental procedure not merely facilitates routine, fast and simple biochemical characterizations but it can also give rise to the discovery of different GEs through an extensive screening of heterologous Genomic and Metagenomic expression libraries.

Recombinant protein production facility for fungal biomass-degrading enzymes using the yeast Pichia pastoris

Filamentous fungi are the predominant source of lignocellulolytic enzymes used in industry for the transformation of plant biomass into high-value molecules and biofuels. The rapidity with which new fungal genomic and post-genomic data are being produced is vastly outpacing functional studies. This underscores the critical need for developing platforms dedicated to the recombinant expression of enzymes lacking confident functional annotation, a prerequisite to their functional and structural study. In the last decade, the yeast Pichia pastoris has become increasingly popular as a host for the production of fungal biomass-degrading enzymes, and particularly carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). This study aimed at setting-up a platform to easily and quickly screen the extracellular expression of biomass-degrading enzymes in P. pastoris. We first used three fungal glycoside hydrolases (GHs) that we previously expressed using the protocol devised by Invitrogen to try different modifications of the original protocol. Considering the gain in time and convenience provided by the new protocol, we used it as basis to set-up the facility and produce a suite of fungal CAZymes (GHs, carbohydrate esterases and auxiliary activity enzyme families) out of which more than 70% were successfully expressed. The platform tasks range from gene cloning to automated protein purifications and activity tests, and is open to the CAZyme users' community.

Enzymatic degradation of lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs): model studies using a fungal glucuronoyl esterase from Cerrena unicolor

Lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs) are believed to influence the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic plant material preventing optimal utilization of biomass in e.g. forestry, feed and biofuel applications. The recently emerged carbohydrate esterase (CE) 15 family of glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) has been proposed to degrade ester LCC bonds between glucuronic acids in xylans and lignin alcohols thereby potentially improving delignification of lignocellulosic biomass when applied in conjunction with other cellulases, hemicellulases and oxidoreductases. Herein, we report the synthesis of four new GE model substrates comprising α- and ɣ-arylalkyl esters representative of the lignin part of naturally occurring ester LCCs as well as the cloning and purification of a novel GE from Cerrena unicolor (CuGE). Together with a known GE from Schizophyllum commune (ScGE), CuGE was biochemically characterized by means of Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to substrate specificity using the synthesized compounds. For both enzymes, a strong preference for 4-O-methyl glucuronoyl esters rather than unsubstituted glucuronoyl esters was observed. Moreover, we found that α-arylalkyl esters of methyl α-D-glucuronic acid are more easily cleaved by GEs than their corresponding ɣ-arylalkyl esters. Furthermore, our results suggest a preference of CuGE for glucuronoyl esters of bulky alcohols supporting the suggested biological action of GEs on LCCs. The synthesis of relevant GE model substrates presented here may provide a valuable tool for the screening, selection and development of industrially relevant GEs for delignification of biomass.

Myceliophthora thermophila syn. Sporotrichum thermophile: a thermophilic mould of biotechnological potential

Myceliophthora thermophila syn. Sporotrichum thermophile is a ubiquitous thermophilic mould with a strong ability to degrade organic matter during optimal growth at 45 °C. Both genome analysis and experimental data have suggested that the mould is capable of hydrolyzing all major polysaccharides found in biomass. The mould is able to secrete a large number of hydrolytic enzymes (cellulases, laccases, xylanases, pectinases, lipases, phytases and some other miscellaneous enzymes) employed in various biotechnological applications. Characterization of the biomass-hydrolyzing activity of wild and recombinant enzymes suggests that this mould is highly efficient in biomass decomposition at both moderate and high temperatures. The native enzymes produced by the mould are more efficient in activity than their mesophilic counterparts beside their low enzyme titers. The mould is able to synthesize various biomolecules, which are used in multifarious applications. Genome sequence data of M. thermophila also supported the physiological data. This review describes the biotechnological potential of thermophilic mould, M. thermophila supported by genomic and experimental evidences.

Genomic insights into the fungal lignocellulolytic system of Myceliophthora thermophila

The microbial conversion of solid cellulosic biomass to liquid biofuels may provide a renewable energy source for transportation fuels. Cellulolytic fungi represent a promising group of organisms, as they have evolved complex systems for adaptation to their natural habitat. The filamentous fungus Myceliophthora thermophila constitutes an exceptionally powerful cellulolytic microorganism that synthesizes a complete set of enzymes necessary for the breakdown of plant cell wall. The genome of this fungus has been recently sequenced and annotated, allowing systematic examination and identification of enzymes required for the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass. The genomic analysis revealed the existence of an expanded enzymatic repertoire including numerous cellulases, hemicellulases, and enzymes with auxiliary activities, covering the most of the recognized CAZy families. Most of them were predicted to possess a secretion signal and undergo through post-translational glycosylation modifications. These data offer a better understanding of activities embedded in fungal lignocellulose decomposition mechanisms and suggest that M. thermophila could be made usable as an industrial production host for cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes.

Transcriptome and exoproteome analysis of utilization of plant-derived biomass by Myceliophthora thermophila

Myceliophthora thermophila is a thermophilic fungus whose genome encodes a wide range of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) involved in plant biomass degradation. Such enzymes have potential applications in turning different kinds of lignocellulosic feedstock into sugar precursors for biofuels and chemicals. The present study examined and compared the transcriptomes and exoproteomes of M. thermophila during cultivation on different types of complex biomass to gain insight into how its secreted enzymatic machinery varies with different sources of lignocellulose. In the transcriptome analysis three monocot (barley, oat, triticale) and three dicot (alfalfa, canola, flax) plants were used whereas in the proteome analysis additional substrates, i.e. wood and corn stover pulps, were included. A core set of 59 genes encoding CAZymes was up-regulated in response to both monocot and dicot straws, including nine polysaccharide monooxygenases and GH10, but not GH11, xylanases. Genes encoding additional xylanolytic enzymes were up-regulated during growth on monocot straws, while genes encoding additional pectinolytic enzymes were up-regulated in response to dicot biomass. Exoproteome analysis was generally consistent with the conclusions drawn from transcriptome analysis, but additional CAZymes that accumulated to high levels were identified. Despite the wide variety of biomass sources tested some CAZy family members were not expressed under any condition. The results of this study provide a comprehensive view from both transcriptome and exoproteome levels, of how M. thermophila responds to a wide range of biomass sources using its genomic resources.

Two new xylanases with different substrate specificities from the human gut bacterium Bacteroides intestinalis DSM 17393

Xylan is an abundant plant cell wall polysaccharide and is a dominant component of dietary fiber. Bacteria in the distal human gastrointestinal tract produce xylanase enzymes to initiate the degradation of this complex heteropolymer. These xylanases typically derive from glycoside hydrolase (GH) families 10 and 11; however, analysis of the genome sequence of the xylan-degrading human gut bacterium Bacteroides intestinalis DSM 17393 revealed the presence of two putative GH8 xylanases. In the current study, we demonstrate that the two genes encode enzymes that differ in activity. The xyn8A gene encodes an endoxylanase (Xyn8A), and rex8A encodes a reducing-end xylose-releasing exo-oligoxylanase (Rex8A). Xyn8A hydrolyzed both xylopentaose (X5) and xylohexaose (X6) to a mixture of xylobiose (X2) and xylotriose (X3), while Rex8A hydrolyzed X3 through X6 to a mixture of xylose (X1) and X2. Moreover, rex8A is located downstream of a GH3 gene (xyl3A) that was demonstrated to exhibit β-xylosidase activity and would be able to further hydrolyze X2 to X1. Mutational analyses of putative active site residues of both Xyn8A and Rex8A confirm their importance in catalysis by these enzymes. Recent genome sequences of gut bacteria reveal an increase in GH8 Rex enzymes, especially among the Bacteroidetes, indicating that these genes contribute to xylan utilization in the human gut.

Preparation of lactose-free pasteurized milk with a recombinant thermostable β-glucosidase from Pyrococcus furiosus

Background

Lactose intolerance is a common health concern causing gastrointestinal symptoms and avoidance of dairy products by afflicted individuals. Since milk is a primary source of calcium and vitamin D, lactose intolerant individuals often obtain insufficient amounts of these nutrients which may lead to adverse health outcomes. Production of lactose-free milk can provide a solution to this problem, although it requires use of lactase from microbial sources and increases potential for contamination. Use of thermostable lactase enzymes can overcome this issue by functioning under pasteurization conditions.

Results

A thermostable β-glucosidase gene from Pyrococcus furiosus was cloned in frame with the Saccharomyces cerecisiae a-factor secretory signal and expressed in Pichia pastoris strain X-33. The recombinant enzyme was purified by a one-step method of weak anion exchange chromatography. The optimum temperature and pH for this β-glucosidase activity was 100°C and pH 6.0, respectively. The enzyme activity was not significantly inhibited by Ca²⁺. We tested the additive amount, hydrolysis time, and the influence of glucose on the enzyme during pasteurization and found that the enzyme possessed a high level of lactose hydrolysis in milk that was not obviously influenced by glucose.

Conclusions

The thermostablity of this recombinant β-glucosidase, combined with its neutral pH activity and favorable temperature activity optima, suggest that this enzyme is an ideal candidate for the hydrolysis of lactose in milk, and it would be suitable for application in low-lactose milk production during pasteurization.

The structure of a novel glucuronoyl esterase from Myceliophthora thermophila gives new insights into its role as a potential biocatalyst

The increasing demand for the development of efficient biocatalysts is a consequence of their broad industrial applications. Typical difficulties that are encountered during their exploitation in a variety of processes are interconnected with factors such as temperature, pH, product inhibitors etc. To eliminate these, research has been directed towards the identification of new enzymes that would comply with the required standards. To this end, the recently discovered glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) are an enigmatic family within the carbohydrate esterase (CE) family. Structures of the thermophilic StGE2 esterase from Myceliophthora thermophila (synonym Sporotrichum thermophile), a member of the CE15 family, and its S213A mutant were determined at 1.55 and 1.9 Å resolution, respectively. The first crystal structure of the S213A mutant in complex with a substrate analogue, methyl 4-O-methyl-β-D-glucopyranuronate, was determined at 2.35 Å resolution. All of the three-dimensional protein structures have an α/β-hydrolase fold with a three-layer αβα-sandwich architecture and a Rossmann topology and comprise one molecule per asymmetric unit. These are the first crystal structures of a thermophilic GE both in an unliganded form and bound to a substrate analogue, thus unravelling the organization of the catalytic triad residues and their neighbours lining the active site. The knowledge derived offers novel insights into the key structural elements that drive the hydrolysis of glucuronic acid esters.

Structure of the catalytic domain of glucuronoyl esterase Cip2 from Hypocrea jecorina

The structure of the catalytic domain of glucuronoyl esterase Cip2 from the fungus H. jecorina was determined at a resolution of 1.9 Å. This is the first structure of the newly established carbohydrate esterase family 15. The structure has revealed the residues Ser278-His411-Glu301 present in a triad arrangement as the active site. Ser278 is present in the novel consensus sequence GCSRXG reported earlier in the members of CE-15 family. The active site is exposed on the surface of the protein which has implications for the ability of the enzyme to hydrolyze ester bonds of large substrates. Efforts are underway to obtain crystals of Cip2_GE complexed with inhibitor and synthetic substrates. The activity of the glucuronoyl esterase could play a significant role in plant biomass degradation as its expected role is to separate the lignin from hemicelluloses by hydrolysis of the ester bond between 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid moieties of glucuronoxylans and aromatic alcohols of lignin.