Engineering a bifunctional starch–cellulose cross-bridge protein

Carbohydrate-Binding Modules of Potential Resources: Occurrence in Nature, Function, and Application in Fiber Recognition and Treatment

Great interests have recently been aroused in the independent associative domain of glycoside hydrolases that utilize insoluble polysaccharides-carbohydrate-binding module (CBM), which responds to binding while the catalytic domain reacts with the substrate. In this mini-review, we first provide a brief introduction on CBM and its subtypes including the classifications, potential sources, structures, and functions. Afterward, the applications of CBMs in substrate recognition based on different types of CBMs have been reviewed. Additionally, the progress of CBMs in paper industry as a new type of environmentally friendly auxiliary agent for fiber treatment is summarized. At last, other applications of CBMs and the future outlook have prospected. Due to the specificity in substrate recognition and diversity in structures, CBM can be a prosperous and promising ‘tool’ for wood and fiber processing in the future.

Advances in molecular engineering of carbohydrate-binding modules

Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are non-catalytic domains that are generally appended to carbohydrate-active enzymes. CBMs have a broadly conserved structure that allows recognition of a notable variety of carbohydrates, in both their soluble and insoluble forms, as well as in their alpha and beta conformations and with different types of bonds or substitutions. This versatility suggests a high functional plasticity that is not yet clearly understood, in spite of the important number of studies relating protein structure and function. Several studies have explored the flexibility of these systems by changing or improving their specificity toward substrates of interest. In this review, we examine the molecular strategies used to identify CBMs with novel or improved characteristics. The impact of the spatial arrangement of the functional amino acids of CBMs is discussed in terms of unexpected new functions that are not related to the original biological roles of the enzymes. Proteins 2017; 85:1602-1617. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Functional demonstrations of starch binding domains present in Ostreococcus tauri starch synthases isoforms

BACKGROUND

Starch-binding domains are key modules present in several enzymes involved in polysaccharide metabolism. These non-catalytic modules have already been described as essential for starch-binding and the catalytic activity of starch synthase III from the higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana. In Ostreococcus tauri, a unicellular green alga of the Prasinophyceae family, there are three SSIII isoforms, known as Ostta SSIII-A, SSIII-B and SSIII-C.

RESULTS

In this work, using in silico and in vitro characterization techniques, we have demonstrated that Ostta SSIII-A, SSIII-B and SSIII-C contain two, three and no starch-binding domains, respectively. Additionally, our phylogenetic analysis has indicated that OsttaSSIII-B, presenting three N-terminal SBDs, is the isoform more closely related to higher plant SSIII. Furthermore, the sequence alignment and homology modeling data gathered showed that both the main 3-D structures of all the modeled domains obtained and the main amino acid residues implicated in starch binding are well conserved in O. tauri SSIII starch-binding domains. In addition, adsorption assays showed that OsttaSSIII-A D2 and SSIII-B D2 domains are the two that make the greatest contribution to amylose and amylopectin binding, while OsttaSSIII-B D1 is also important for starch binding.

CONCLUSIONS

The results presented here suggest that differences between OsttaSSIII-A and SSIII-B SBDs in the number of and binding of amino acid residues may produce differential affinities for each isoform to polysaccharides. Increasing the knowledge about SBDs may lead to their employment in biomedical and industrial applications.

Recombinant CBM-fusion technology - Applications overview

Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are small components of several enzymes, which present an independent fold and function, and specific carbohydrate-binding activity. Their major function is to bind the enzyme to the substrate enhancing its catalytic activity, especially in the case of insoluble substrates. The immense diversity of CBMs, together with their unique properties, has long raised their attention for many biotechnological applications. Recombinant DNA technology has been used for cloning and characterizing new CBMs. In addition, it has been employed to improve the purity and availability of many CBMs, but mainly, to construct bi-functional CBM-fused proteins for specific applications. This review presents a comprehensive summary of the uses of CBMs recombinantly produced from heterologous organisms, or by the original host, along with the latest advances. Emphasis is given particularly to the applications of recombinant CBM-fusions in: (a) modification of fibers, (b) production, purification and immobilization of recombinant proteins, (c) functionalization of biomaterials and (d) development of microarrays and probes.

Clues for biomimetics from natural composite materials

Bio-inspired material systems are derived from different living organisms such as plants, arthropods, mammals and marine organisms. These biomaterial systems from nature are always present in the form of composites, with molecular-scale interactions optimized to direct functional features. With interest in replacing synthetic materials with natural materials due to biocompatibility, sustainability and green chemistry issues, it is important to understand the molecular structure and chemistry of the raw component materials to also learn from their natural engineering, interfaces and interactions leading to durable and highly functional material architectures. This review will focus on applications of biomaterials in single material forms, as well as biomimetic composites inspired by natural organizational features. Examples of different natural composite systems will be described, followed by implementation of the principles underlying their composite organization into artificial bio-inspired systems for materials with new functional features for future medicine.

Circular permutation of the starch-binding domain: inversion of ligand selectivity with increased affinity

Proteins containing starch-binding domains (SBDs) are used in a variety of scientific and technological applications. A circularly permutated SBD (CP90) with improved affinity and selectivity toward longer-chain carbohydrates was synthesized, suggesting that a new starch-binding protein may be developed for specific scientific and industrial applications.

Molecular engineering of the cellulosome complex for affinity and bioenergy applications

The cellulosome complex has evolved to degrade plant cell walls and, as such, combines tenacious binding to cellulose with diverse catalytic activities against amorphous and crystalline cellulose. Cellulolytic microorganisms provide an extensive selection of domains; those with affinity for cellulose, cohesins and their dockerin binding partners that define cellulosome stoichiometry and architecture, and a range of catalytic activities against carbohydrates. These robust domains provide the building blocks for molecular design. This review examines how protein modules derived from the cellulosome have been incorporated into chimaeric proteins to provide biosynthetic tools for research and industry. These applications include affinity tags for protein purification, and non-chemical methods for immobilisation and presentation of recombinant protein domains on cellulosic substrates. Cellulosomal architecture provides a paradigm for design of enzymatic complexes that synergistically combine multiple catalytic subunits to achieve higher specific activity than would be obtained using free enzymes. Multimeric enzymatic complexes may have industrial applications of relevance for an emerging carbon economy. Biocatalysis will lead to more efficient utilisation of renewable carbon-fixing energy sources with the added benefits of reducing chemical waste streams and reliance on petroleum.

Strength improvement of critical-sized three dimensional printing parts by infiltration of solvent-free visible light-cured resin

The use of light-cured acrylate resin as an infiltrant can enhance flexural modulus and flexural strength of natural polymers based three dimensional printing (3DP) parts to be closed to general use of polymethyl methacrylate resin. It was observed that flexural properties of infiltrated specimens were influenced by infiltration conditions. Curing by normal halogen light bulb was more practical for critical-sized 3DP parts than curing by typically small probe of dental visible light curing unit (VLC). Similar levels of flexural properties were obtained from these two methods. Post-heated treatment after curing was also observed to further increase the flexural modulus and strength of infiltrated samples. However, flexural strain at break was not affected by different curing conditions. Preliminary In Vitro toxicity test of infiltrated 3DP parts showed that the cells which were in contact with samples were healthy. No inhibition zone was observed.

Carbohydrate binding modules: biochemical properties and novel applications

Polysaccharide-degrading microorganisms express a repertoire of hydrolytic enzymes that act in synergy on plant cell wall and other natural polysaccharides to elicit the degradation of often-recalcitrant substrates. These enzymes, particularly those that hydrolyze cellulose and hemicellulose, have a complex molecular architecture comprising discrete modules which are normally joined by relatively unstructured linker sequences. This structure is typically comprised of a catalytic module and one or more carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) that bind to the polysaccharide. CBMs, by bringing the biocatalyst into intimate and prolonged association with its substrate, allow and promote catalysis. Based on their properties, CBMs are grouped into 43 families that display substantial variation in substrate specificity, along with other properties that make them a gold mine for biotechnologists who seek natural molecular "Velcro" for diverse and unusual applications. In this article, we review recent progress in the field of CBMs and provide an up-to-date summary of the latest developments in CBM applications.

Recent developments on cellulases and carbohydrate-binding modules with cellulose affinity

This review concerns basic research on cellulases and cellulose-specific carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). As a background, glycosyl hydrolases are also briefly reviewed. The nomenclature of cellulases and CBMs is discussed. The main cellulase-producing organisms and their cellulases are described. Synergy, enantioseparation, cellulases in plants, cellulosomes, cellulases and CBMs as analytical tools and cellulase-like enzymes are also briefly reviewed.