A complex gene locus enables xyloglucan utilization in the model saprophyte Cellvibrio japonicus

Characterization of an α-L-fucosidase in marine bacterium Wenyingzhuangia fucanilytica: new evidence on the catalytic sites of GH95 family glycosidases

BACKGROUND

α-l-Fucose confers unique functions for fucose-containing biomolecules such as human milk oligosaccharides. α-l-Fucosidases can serve as desirable tools in the application of fucosylated saccharides. Discovering novel α-l-fucosidases and elucidating their enzyme properties are always worthy tasks.

RESULTS

A GH95 family α-l-fucosidase named Afc95A_Wf was cloned from the genome of the marine bacterium Wenyingzhuangia fucanilytica and expressed in Escherichia coli. It exhibited maximum activity at 40 °C and pH 7.5. Afc95A_Wf defined a different substrate specificity among reported α-l-fucosidases, which was capable of hydrolyzing α-fucoside in CNP-fucose, Fucα1-2Galβ1-4Glc and Galβ1-4(Fucα1-3)Glc, and showed a preference for α1,2-fucosidic linkage. It adopted Asp residue in the amino acid sequence at position 391, which was distinct from the previously acknowledged residue of Asn. The predicted tertiary structure and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that Asp391 participates in the catalysis of Afc95A_Wf. The differences in the substrate specificity and catalytic site shed light on that Afc95A_Wf adopted a novel mechanism in catalysis.

CONCLUSION

A GH95 family α-l-fucosidase (Afc95A_Wf) was cloned and expressed. It showed a cleavage preference for α1,2-fucosidic linkage to α1,3-fucosidic linkage. Afc95A_Wf demonstrated a different substrate specificity and a residue at an important catalytic site compared with known GH95 family proteins, which revealed the occurrence of diversity on catalytic mechanisms in the GH95 family. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Characterization of Two Glycoside Hydrolases of Family GH13 and GH57, Present in a Polysaccharide Utilization Locus (PUL) of Pontibacter sp. SGAir0037

Glycogen, an α-glucan polymer serving as an energy storage compound in microorganisms, is synthesized through distinct pathways (GlgC-GlgA or GlgE pathway). Both pathways involve multiple enzymes, with a shared glycogen branching enzyme (GBE). GBEs play a pivotal role in establishing α-1,6-linkages within the glycogen structure. GBEs are also used for starch modification. Understanding how these enzymes work is interesting for both glycogen synthesis in microorganisms, as well as novel applications for starch modification. This study focuses on a putative enzyme GH13_9 GBE (PoGBE13), present in a polysaccharide utilization locus (PUL) of Pontibacter sp. SGAir0037, and related to the GlgE glycogen synthesis pathway. While the PUL of Pontibacter sp. SGAir0037 contains glycogen-degrading enzymes, the branching enzyme (PoGBE13) was also found due to genetic closeness. Characterization revealed that PoGBE13 functions as a typical branching enzyme, exhibiting a relatively high branching over non-branching (hydrolysis and α-1,4-transferase activity) ratio on linear maltooctadecaose (3.0 ± 0.4). Besides the GH13_9 GBE, a GH57 (PoGH57) enzyme was selected for characterization from the same PUL due to its undefined function. The combined action of both GH13 and GH57 enzymes suggested 4-α-glucanotransferase activity for PoGH57. The characterization of these unique enzymes related to a GlgE glycogen synthesis pathway provides a more profound understanding of their interactions and synergistic roles in glycogen synthesis and are potential enzymes for use in starch modification processes. Due to the structural similarity between glycogen and starch, PoGBE13 can potentially be used for starch modification with different applications, for example, in functional food ingredients.

A Multiplexing Activity-Based Protein-Profiling Platform for Dissection of a Native Bacterial Xyloglucan-Degrading System

Bacteria and yeasts grow on biomass polysaccharides by expressing and excreting a complex array of glycoside hydrolase (GH) enzymes. Identification and annotation of such GH pools, which are valuable commodities for sustainable energy and chemistries, by conventional means (genomics, proteomics) are complicated, as primary sequence or secondary structure alignment with known active enzymes is not always predictive for new ones. Here we report a "low-tech", easy-to-use, and sensitive multiplexing activity-based protein-profiling platform to characterize the xyloglucan-degrading GH system excreted by the soil saprophyte, Cellvibrio japonicus, when grown on xyloglucan. A suite of activity-based probes bearing orthogonal fluorophores allows for the visualization of accessory exo-acting glycosidases, which are then identified using biotin-bearing probes. Substrate specificity of xyloglucanases is directly revealed by imbuing xyloglucan structural elements into bespoke activity-based probes. Our ABPP platform provides a highly useful tool to dissect xyloglucan-degrading systems from various sources and to rapidly select potentially useful ones. The observed specificity of the probes moreover bodes well for the study of other biomass polysaccharide-degrading systems, by modeling probe structures to those of desired substrates.

A systematic analysis of marine lysogens and proviruses

Viruses are ubiquitous in the oceans, exhibiting high abundance and diversity. Here, we systematically analyze existing genomic sequences of marine prokaryotes to compile a Marine Prokaryotic Genome Dataset (MPGD, consisting of over 12,000 bacterial and archaeal genomes) and a Marine Temperate Viral Genome Dataset (MTVGD). At least 40% of the MPGD genomes contain one or more proviral sequences, indicating that they are lysogens. The MTVGD includes over 12,900 viral contigs or putative proviruses, clustered into 10,897 viral genera. We show that lysogens and proviruses are abundant in marine ecosystems, particularly in the deep sea, and marine lysogens differ from non-lysogens in multiple genomic features and growth properties. We reveal several virus-host interaction networks of potential ecological relevance, and identify proviruses that appear to be able to infect (or to be transferred between) different bacterial classes and phyla. Auxiliary metabolic genes in the MTVGD are enriched in functions related to carbohydrate metabolism. Finally, we experimentally demonstrate the impact of a prophage on the transcriptome of a representative marine Shewanella bacterium. Our work contributes to a better understanding of the ecology of marine prokaryotes and their viruses.

Marine Bacteroidetes enzymatically digest xylans from terrestrial plants

Marine Bacteroidetes that degrade polysaccharides contribute to carbon cycling in the ocean. Organic matter, including glycans from terrestrial plants, might enter the oceans through rivers. Whether marine bacteria degrade structurally related glycans from diverse sources including terrestrial plants and marine algae was previously unknown. We show that the marine bacterium Flavimarina sp. Hel_I_48 encodes two polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) which degrade xylans from terrestrial plants and marine algae. Biochemical experiments revealed activity and specificity of the encoded xylanases and associated enzymes of these PULs. Proteomics indicated that these genomic regions respond to glucuronoxylans and arabinoxylans. Substrate specificities of key enzymes suggest dedicated metabolic pathways for xylan utilization. Some of the xylanases were active on different xylans with the conserved β-1,4-linked xylose main chain. Enzyme activity was consistent with growth curves showing Flavimarina sp. Hel_I_48 uses structurally different xylans. The observed abundance of related xylan-degrading enzyme repertoires in genomes of other marine Bacteroidetes indicates similar activities are common in the ocean. The here presented data show that certain marine bacteria are genetically and biochemically variable enough to access parts of structurally diverse xylans from terrestrial plants as well as from marine algal sources.

Degradation of xylan by human gut Bacteroides xylanisolvens XB1A

Although many polysaccharides utilization loci (PULs) have been investigated by genomics and transcriptomics, the detailed functional characterization lags severely behind. We hypothesize that PULs on the genome of Bacteroides xylanisolvens XB1A (BX) dictate the degradation of complex xylan. To address, xylan S32 isolated from Dendrobium officinale was employed as a sample polysaccharide. We firstly showed that xylan S32 promoted the growth of BX which might degrade xylan S32 into monosaccharides and oligosaccharides. We further showed that this degradation was performed mainly via two discrete PULs in the genome of BX. Briefly, a new surface glycan binding protein (SGBP) BX_29290^SGBP was identified, and shown to be essential for the growth of BX on xylan S32. Two cell surface endo-xylanases Xyn10A and Xyn10B cooperated to deconstruct the xylan S32. Intriguingly, genes encoding Xyn10A and Xyn10B were mainly distributed in the genome of Bacteroides spp. In addition, BX metabolized xylan S32 to produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and folate. Taken together, these findings provide new evidence to understand the food source of BX and the BX-directed intervention strategy by xylan.

Function and Structure of Lacticaseibacillus casei GH35 β-Galactosidase LBCZ_0230 with High Hydrolytic Activity to Lacto-N-biose I and Galacto-N-biose

β-Galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) hydrolyzes β-D-galactosidic linkages at the non-reducing end of substrates to produce β-D-galactose. Lacticaseibacillus casei is one of the most widely utilized probiotic species of lactobacilli. It possesses a putative β-galactosidase belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 35 (GH35). This enzyme is encoded by the gene included in the gene cluster for utilization of lacto-N-biose I (LNB; Galβ1-3GlcNAc) and galacto-N-biose (GNB; Galβ1-3GalNAc) via the phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system. The GH35 protein (GnbG) from L. casei BL23 is predicted to be 6-phospho-β-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.85). However, its 6-phospho-β-galactosidase activity has not yet been examined, whereas its hydrolytic activity against LNB and GNB has been demonstrated. In this study, L. casei JCM1134 LBCZ_0230, homologous to GnbG, was characterized enzymatically and structurally. A recombinant LBCZ_0230, produced in Escherichia coli, exhibited high hydrolytic activity toward o-nitrophenyl β-D-galactopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl β-D-galactopyranoside, LNB, and GNB, but not toward o-nitrophenyl 6-phospho-β-D-galactopyranoside. Crystal structure analysis indicates that the structure of subsite -1 of LBCZ_0230 is very similar to that of Streptococcus pneumoniae β-galactosidase BgaC and not suitable for binding to 6-phospho-β-D-galactopyranoside. These biochemical and structural analyses indicate that LBCZ_0230 is a β-galactosidase. According to the prediction of LNB's binding mode, aromatic residues, Trp190, Trp240, Trp243, Phe244, and Tyr458, form hydrophobic interactions with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residue of LNB at subsite +1.

The Glycoside Hydrolase Family 35 β-galactosidase from Trichoderma reesei debranches xyloglucan oligosaccharides from tamarind and jatobá

Trichoderma reesei (anamorph Hypocrea jecorina) produces an extracellular beta-galactosidase from Glycoside Hydrolase Family 35 (TrBga1). Hydrolysis of xyloglucan oligosaccharides (XGOs) by TrBga1 has been studied by hydrolysis profile analysis of both tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and jatobá (Hymenaea courbaril) seed storage xyloglucans using PACE and MALDI-ToF-MS for separation, quantification and identification of the hydrolysis products. The TrBga1 substrate preference for galactosylated oligosaccharides from both the XXXG- and XXXXG-series of jatobá xyloglucan showed that the doubly galactosylated oligosaccharides were the first to be hydrolyzed. Furthermore, the TrBga1 showed more efficient hydrolysis against non-reducing end dexylosylated oligosaccharides (GLXG/GXLG and GLLG). This preference may play a key role in xyloglucan degradation, since galactosyl removal alleviates steric hindrance for other enzymes in the xyloglucanolytic complex resulting in complete xyloglucan mobilization. Indeed, mixtures of TrBga1 with the α-xylosidase from Escherichia coli (YicI), which shows a preference towards non-galactosylated xyloglucan oligosaccharides, reveals efficient depolymerization when either enzyme is applied first. This understanding of the synergistic depolymerization contributes to the knowledge of plant cell wall structure, and reveals possible evolutionary mechanisms directing the preferences of debranching enzymes acting on xyloglucan oligosaccharides.

Structure and function of microbial α-l-fucosidases: a mini review

Fucose is a monosaccharide commonly found in mammalian, insect, microbial and plant glycans. The removal of terminal α-l-fucosyl residues from oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates is catalysed by α-l-fucosidases. To date, glycoside hydrolases (GHs) with exo-fucosidase activity on α-l-fucosylated substrates (EC 3.2.1.51, EC 3.2.1.-) have been reported in the GH29, GH95, GH139, GH141 and GH151 families of the Carbohydrate Active Enzymes (CAZy) database. Microbes generally encode several fucosidases in their genomes, often from more than one GH family, reflecting the high diversity of naturally occuring fucosylated structures they encounter. Functionally characterised microbial α-l-fucosidases have been shown to act on a range of substrates with α-1,2, α-1,3, α-1,4 or α-1,6 fucosylated linkages depending on the GH family and microorganism. Fucosidases show a modular organisation with catalytic domains of GH29 and GH151 displaying a (β/α)8-barrel fold while GH95 and GH141 show a (α/α)6 barrel and parallel β-helix fold, respectively. A number of crystal structures have been solved in complex with ligands, providing structural basis for their substrate specificity. Fucosidases can also be used in transglycosylation reactions to synthesise oligosaccharides. This mini review provides an overview of the enzymatic and structural properties of microbial α-l-fucosidases and some insights into their biological function and biotechnological applications.

Functional metagenomic screening identifies an unexpected β-glucuronidase

The abundance of recorded protein sequence data stands in contrast to the small number of experimentally verified functional annotation. Here we screened a million-membered metagenomic library at ultrahigh throughput in microfluidic droplets for β-glucuronidase activity. We identified SN243, a genuine β-glucuronidase with little homology to previously studied enzymes of this type, as a glycoside hydrolase 3 family member. This glycoside hydrolase family contains only one recently added β-glucuronidase, showing that a functional metagenomic approach can shed light on assignments that are currently 'unpredictable' by bioinformatics. Kinetic analyses of SN243 characterized it as a promiscuous catalyst and structural analysis suggests regions of divergence from homologous glycoside hydrolase 3 members creating a wide-open active site. With a screening throughput of >10⁷ library members per day, picolitre-volume microfluidic droplets enable functional assignments that complement current enzyme database dictionaries and provide bridgeheads for the annotation of unexplored sequence space.

Glycoside hydrolase from the GH76 family indicates that marine Salegentibacter sp. Hel_I_6 consumes alpha-mannan from fungi

Microbial glycan degradation is essential to global carbon cycling. The marine bacterium Salegentibacter sp. Hel_I_6 (Bacteroidota) isolated from seawater off Helgoland island (North Sea) contains an α-mannan inducible gene cluster with a GH76 family endo-α-1,6-mannanase (ShGH76). This cluster is related to genetic loci employed by human gut bacteria to digest fungal α-mannan. Metagenomes from the Hel_I_6 isolation site revealed increasing GH76 gene frequencies in free-living bacteria during microalgae blooms, suggesting degradation of α-1,6-mannans from fungi. Recombinant ShGH76 protein activity assays with yeast α-mannan and synthetic oligomannans showed endo-α-1,6-mannanase activity. Resolved structures of apo-ShGH76 (2.0 Å) and of mutants co-crystalized with fungal mannan-mimicking α-1,6-mannotetrose (1.90 Å) and α-1,6-mannotriose (1.47 Å) retained the canonical (α/α)6 fold, despite low identities with sequences of known GH76 structures (GH76s from gut bacteria: <27%). The apo-form active site differed from those known from gut bacteria, and co-crystallizations revealed a kinked oligomannan conformation. Co-crystallizations also revealed precise molecular-scale interactions of ShGH76 with fungal mannan-mimicking oligomannans, indicating adaptation to this particular type of substrate. Our data hence suggest presence of yet unknown fungal α-1,6-mannans in marine ecosystems, in particular during microalgal blooms.

Gut microbiome of the largest living rodent harbors unprecedented enzymatic systems to degrade plant polysaccharides

The largest living rodent, capybara, can efficiently depolymerize and utilize lignocellulosic biomass through microbial symbiotic mechanisms yet elusive. Herein, we elucidate the microbial community composition, enzymatic systems and metabolic pathways involved in the conversion of dietary fibers into short-chain fatty acids, a main energy source for the host. In this microbiota, the unconventional enzymatic machinery from Fibrobacteres seems to drive cellulose degradation, whereas a diverse set of carbohydrate-active enzymes from Bacteroidetes, organized in polysaccharide utilization loci, are accounted to tackle complex hemicelluloses typically found in gramineous and aquatic plants. Exploring the genetic potential of this community, we discover a glycoside hydrolase family of β-galactosidases (named as GH173), and a carbohydrate-binding module family (named as CBM89) involved in xylan binding that establishes an unprecedented three-dimensional fold among associated modules to carbohydrate-active enzymes. Together, these results demonstrate how the capybara gut microbiota orchestrates the depolymerization and utilization of plant fibers, representing an untapped reservoir of enzymatic mechanisms to overcome the lignocellulose recalcitrance, a central challenge toward a sustainable and bio-based economy.

Here, Cabral et al., perform a multi-omics analysis of the gut microbiome of capybara, the largest living rodent, unveiling enzymatic mechanisms for the breakdown of lignocellulosic biomass, and report two undescribed families of carbohydrate-active enzymes.

Characterization of an extracellular α-xylosidase involved in xyloglucan degradation in Aspergillus oryzae

α-Xylosidases release the α-D-xylopyranosyl side chain from di- and oligosaccharides derived from xyloglucans and are involved in xyloglucan degradation. In this study, an extracellular α-xylosidase, named AxyB, is identified and characterized in Aspergillus oryzae. AxyB belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 31 and releases D-xylose from isoprimeverose (α-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-D-glucopyranose) and xyloglucan oligosaccharides. In the hydrolysis of xyloglucan oligosaccharides (XLLG, Glc₄Xyl₃Gal₂ nonasaccharide; XLXG/XXLG, Glc₄Xyl₃Gal₁ octasaccharide; and XXXG, Glc₄Xyl₃ heptasaccharide), AxyB releases one molecule of the xylopyranosyl side chain attached to the non-reducing end of the β-1,4-glucan main chain of these xyloglucan oligosaccharides to yield GLLG (Glc₄Xyl₂Gal₂), GLXG/GXLG (Glc₄Xyl₂Gal₁), and GXXG (Glc₄Xyl₂). A. oryzae has both extracellular and intracellular α-xylosidase, suggesting that xyloglucan oligosaccharides are degraded by a combination of isoprimeverose-producing oligoxyloglucan hydrolase and intracellular α-xylosidase and a combination of extracellular α-xylosidase and β-glucosidase(s) in A. oryzae. KEY POINTS: • An extracellular α-xylosidase, AxyB, is identified in Aspergillus oryzae. • AxyB releases the xylopyranosyl side chain from xyloglucan oligosaccharides. • Different sets of glycosidases degrade xyloglucan oligosaccharides in A. oryzae.

Handling Several Sugars at a Time: a Case Study of Xyloglucan Utilization by Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum

Xyloglucan utilization by Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum was formerly shown to imply the uptake of large xylogluco-oligosaccharides, followed by cytosolic depolymerization into glucose, galactose, xylose, and cellobiose. This raises the question of how the anaerobic bacterium manages the simultaneous presence of multiple sugars. Using genetic and biochemical approaches targeting the corresponding metabolic pathways, we observed that, surprisingly, all sugars are catabolized, collectively, but glucose consumption is prioritized. Most selected enzymes display unusual features, especially the GTP-dependent hexokinase of glycolysis, which appeared reversible and crucial for xyloglucan utilization. In contrast, mutant strains lacking either galactokinase, cellobiose-phosphorylase, or xylulokinase still catabolize xyloglucan but display variably altered growth. Furthermore, the xylogluco-oligosaccharide depolymerization process appeared connected to the downstream pathways through an intricate network of competitive and noncompetitive inhibitions. Altogether, our data indicate that xyloglucan utilization by R. cellulolyticum relies on an energy-saving central carbon metabolism deviating from current bacterial models, which efficiently prevents carbon overflow. IMPORTANCE The study of the decomposition of recalcitrant plant biomass is of great interest as the limiting step of terrestrial carbon cycle and to produce plant-derived valuable chemicals and energy. While extracellular cellulose degradation and catabolism have been studied in detail, few publications describe the complete metabolism of hemicelluloses and, to date, the published models are limited to the extracellular degradation and sequential entry of simple sugars. Here, we describe how the model anaerobic bacterium Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum deals with the synchronous intracellular release of glucose, galactose, xylose, and cellobiose upon cytosolic depolymerization of imported xyloglucan oligosaccharides. The described novel metabolic strategy involves the simultaneous activity of different metabolic pathways coupled to a network of inhibitions controlling the carbon flux and is distinct from the ubiquitously observed sequential uptake and metabolism of carbohydrates known as the diauxic shift. Our results highlight the diversity of cellular responses related to a complex environment.

Unifying themes and distinct features of carbon and nitrogen assimilation by polysaccharide-degrading bacteria: a summary of four model systems

Our current understanding of enzymatic polysaccharide degradation has come from a huge number of in vitro studies with purified enzymes. While this vast body of work has been invaluable in identifying and characterizing novel mechanisms of action and engineering desirable traits into these enzymes, a comprehensive picture of how these enzymes work as part of a native in vivo system is less clear. Recently, several model bacteria have emerged with genetic systems that allow for a more nuanced study of carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) and how their activity affects bacterial carbon metabolism. With these bacterial model systems, it is now possible to not only study a single nutrient system in isolation (i.e., carbohydrate degradation and carbon metabolism), but also how multiple systems are integrated. Given that most environmental polysaccharides are carbon rich but nitrogen poor (e.g., lignocellulose), the interplay between carbon and nitrogen metabolism in polysaccharide-degrading bacteria can now be studied in a physiologically relevant manner. Therefore, in this review, we have summarized what has been experimentally determined for CAZyme regulation, production, and export in relation to nitrogen metabolism for two Gram-positive (Caldicellulosiruptor bescii and Clostridium thermocellum) and two Gram-negative (Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Cellvibrio japonicus) polysaccharide-degrading bacteria. By comparing and contrasting these four bacteria, we have highlighted the shared and unique features of each, with a focus on in vivo studies, in regard to carbon and nitrogen assimilation. We conclude with what we believe are two important questions that can act as guideposts for future work to better understand the integration of carbon and nitrogen metabolism in polysaccharide-degrading bacteria. KEY POINTS: • Regardless of CAZyme deployment system, the generation of a local pool of oligosaccharides is a common strategy among Gram-negative and Gram-positive polysaccharide degraders as a means to maximally recoup the energy expenditure of CAZyme production and export. • Due to the nitrogen deficiency of insoluble polysaccharide-containing substrates, Gram-negative and Gram-positive polysaccharide degraders have a diverse set of strategies for supplementation and assimilation. • Future work needs to precisely characterize the energetic expenditures of CAZyme deployment and bolster our understanding of how carbon and nitrogen metabolism are integrated in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive polysaccharide-degrading bacteria, as both of these will significantly influence a given bacterium's suitability for biotechnology applications.

Polysaccharide degradation by the Bacteroidetes: mechanisms and nomenclature

The Bacteroidetes phylum is renowned for its ability to degrade a wide range of complex carbohydrates, a trait that has enabled its dominance in many diverse environments. The best studied species inhabit the human gut microbiome and use polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs), discrete genetic structures that encode proteins involved in the sensing, binding, deconstruction, and import of target glycans. In many environmental species, polysaccharide degradation is tightly coupled to the phylum-exclusive type IX secretion system (T9SS), which is used for the secretion of certain enzymes and is linked to gliding motility. In addition, within specific species these two adaptive systems (PULs and T9SS) are intertwined, with PUL-encoded enzymes being secreted by the T9SS. Here, we discuss the most noteworthy PUL and non-PUL mechanisms that confer specific and rapid polysaccharide degradation capabilities to the Bacteroidetes in a range of environments. We also acknowledge that the literature showcasing examples of PULs is rapidly expanding and developing a set of assumptions that can be hard to track back to original findings. Therefore, we present a simple universal description of conserved PUL functions and how they are determined, while proposing a common nomenclature describing PULs and their components, to simplify discussion and understanding of PUL systems.

Xyloglucan processing machinery in Xanthomonas pathogens and its role in the transcriptional activation of virulence factors

Xyloglucans are highly substituted and recalcitrant polysaccharides found in the primary cell walls of vascular plants, acting as a barrier against pathogens. Here, we reveal that the diverse and economically relevant Xanthomonas bacteria are endowed with a xyloglucan depolymerization machinery that is linked to pathogenesis. Using the citrus canker pathogen as a model organism, we show that this system encompasses distinctive glycoside hydrolases, a modular xyloglucan acetylesterase and specific membrane transporters, demonstrating that plant-associated bacteria employ distinct molecular strategies from commensal gut bacteria to cope with xyloglucans. Notably, the sugars released by this system elicit the expression of several key virulence factors, including the type III secretion system, a membrane-embedded apparatus to deliver effector proteins into the host cells. Together, these findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms underpinning the intricate enzymatic machinery of Xanthomonas to depolymerize xyloglucans and uncover a role for this system in signaling pathways driving pathogenesis.

Interaction of cellulose and xyloglucan influences in vitro fermentation outcomes

To investigate the effects of interactions between cellulose and xyloglucan (XG) on in vitro fermentation, a composite of bacterial cellulose (BC) incorporating XG during pellicle formation (BCXG), was fermented using a human faecal inoculum, and compared with BC, XG and a mixture (BC&XG) physically blended to have the same BC to XG ratio of BCXG. Compared to individual polysaccharides, the fermentation extent of BC and fermentation rate of XG were promoted in BC&XG. XG embedded in the BCXG composite was degraded less than in BC&XG, while more cellulose in BCXG was fermented than in BC&XG. This combination explains the similar amount of short chain fatty acid production noted throughout the fermentation process for BCXG and BC&XG. Microbial community dynamics for each substrate were consistent with the corresponding polysaccharide degradation. Thus, interactions between cellulose and XG are shown to influence their fermentability in multiple ways.

Comparison of Strategies for Isolating Anaerobic Bacteria from the Porcine Intestine

The isolation of bacteria that represent the diversity of autochthonous taxa in the gastrointestinal tract is necessary to fully ascertain their function, but the majority of bacterial species inhabiting the intestines of mammals are fastidious and thus challenging to isolate. The goal of the current study was to isolate a diverse assemblage of anaerobic bacteria from the intestine of pigs as a model animal and to comparatively examine various novel and traditional isolation strategies. Methods used included long-term enrichments, direct plating, a modified ichip method, as well as ethanol and tyndallization treatments of samples to select for endospore-forming taxa. A total of 234 taxa (91 previously uncultured) comprising 80 genera and 7 phyla were isolated from mucosal and luminal samples from the ileum, cecum, ascending colon, and spiral colon removed from animals under anesthesia. The diversity of bacteria isolated from the large intestine was less than that detected by next-generation sequence analysis. Long-term enrichments yielded the greatest diversity of recovered bacteria (Shannon's index [SI] = 4.7). Methods designed to isolate endospore-forming bacteria produced the lowest diversity (SI ≤ 2.7), with tyndallization yielding lower diversity than the ethanol method. However, the isolation frequency of previously uncultured bacteria was highest for ethanol-treated samples (41.9%) and the ichip method (32.5%). The goal of recovering a diverse collection of enteric bacteria was achieved. Importantly, the study findings demonstrate that it is necessary to use a combination of methods in concert to isolate bacteria that are representative of the diversity within the intestines of mammals.IMPORTANCE This work determined that using a combination of anaerobic isolation methods is necessary to increase the diversity of bacteria recovered from the intestines of monogastric mammals. Direct plating methods have traditionally been used to isolate enteric bacteria, and recent methods (e.g., diffusion methods [i.e., ichip] or differential isolation of endospore-forming bacteria) have been suggested to be superior at increasing diversity, including the recovery of previously uncultured taxa. We showed that long-term enrichment of samples using a variety of media isolated the most diverse and novel bacteria. Application of the ichip method delivered a diversity of bacteria similar to those of enrichment and direct plating methods. Methods that selected for endospore-forming bacteria generated collections that differed in composition from those of other methods with reduced diversity. However, the ethanol treatment frequently isolated novel bacteria. By using a combination of methods in concert, a diverse collection of enteric bacteria was generated for ancillary experimentation.

Transcript Regulation of the Recoded Archaeal α-l-Fucosidase In Vivo

Genetic decoding is flexible, due to programmed deviation of the ribosomes from standard translational rules, globally termed "recoding". In Archaea, recoding has been unequivocally determined only for termination codon readthrough events that regulate the incorporation of the unusual amino acids selenocysteine and pyrrolysine, and for -1 programmed frameshifting that allow the expression of a fully functional α-l-fucosidase in the crenarchaeon Saccharolobus solfataricus, in which several functional interrupted genes have been identified. Increasing evidence suggests that the flexibility of the genetic code decoding could provide an evolutionary advantage in extreme conditions, therefore, the identification and study of interrupted genes in extremophilic Archaea could be important from an astrobiological point of view, providing new information on the origin and evolution of the genetic code and on the limits of life on Earth. In order to shed some light on the mechanism of programmed -1 frameshifting in Archaea, here we report, for the first time, on the analysis of the transcription of this recoded archaeal α-l-fucosidase and of its full-length mutant in different growth conditions in vivo. We found that only the wild type mRNA significantly increased in S. solfataricus after cold shock and in cells grown in minimal medium containing hydrolyzed xyloglucan as carbon source. Our results indicated that the increased level of fucA mRNA cannot be explained by transcript up-regulation alone. A different mechanism related to translation efficiency is discussed.

Enzymatic degradation of xyloglucans by Aspergillus species: a comparative view of this genus

Aspergillus species are closely associated with humanity through fermentation, infectious disease, and mycotoxin contamination of food. Members of this genus produce various enzymes to degrade plant polysaccharides, including starch, cellulose, xylan, and xyloglucan. This review focus on the machinery of the xyloglucan degradation using glycoside hydrolases, such as xyloglucanases, isoprimeverose-producing oligoxyloglucan hydrolases, and α-xylosidases, in Aspergillus species. Some xyloglucan degradation-related glycoside hydrolases are well conserved in this genus; however, other enzymes are not. Cooperative actions of these glycoside hydrolases are crucial for xyloglucan degradation in Aspergillus species. KEY POINTS: •Xyloglucan degradation-related enzymes of Aspergillus species are reviewed. •Each Aspergillus species possesses a different set of glycoside hydrolases. •The machinery of xyloglucan degradation of A. oryzae is overviewed.

Efficient chito-oligosaccharide utilization requires two TonB-dependent transporters and one hexosaminidase in Cellvibrio japonicus

Chitin utilization by microbes plays a significant role in biosphere carbon and nitrogen cycling, and studying the microbial approaches used to degrade chitin will facilitate our understanding of bacterial strategies to degrade a broad range of recalcitrant polysaccharides. The early stages of chitin depolymerization by the bacterium Cellvibrio japonicus have been characterized and are dependent on one chitin-specific lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase and nonredundant glycoside hydrolases from the family GH18 to generate chito-oligosaccharides for entry into metabolism. Here, we describe the mechanisms for the latter stages of chitin utilization by C. japonicus with an emphasis on the fate of chito-oligosaccharides. Our systems biology approach combined transcriptomics and bacterial genetics using ecologically relevant substrates to determine the essential mechanisms for chito-oligosaccharide transport and catabolism in C. japonicus. Using RNAseq analysis we found a coordinated expression of genes that encode polysaccharide-degrading enzymes. Mutational analysis determined that the hex20B gene product, predicted to encode a hexosaminidase, was required for efficient utilization of chito-oligosaccharides. Furthermore, two gene loci (CJA_0353 and CJA_1157), which encode putative TonB-dependent transporters, were also essential for chito-oligosaccharides utilization. This study further develops our model of C. japonicus chitin metabolism and may be predictive for other environmentally or industrially important bacteria.

New Family of Carbohydrate-Binding Modules Defined by a Galactosyl-Binding Protein Module from a Cellvibrio japonicus Endo-Xyloglucanase

Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are usually appended to carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and serve to potentiate catalytic activity, for example, by increasing substrate affinity. The Gram-negative soil saprophyte Cellvibrio japonicus is a valuable source for CAZyme and CBM discovery and characterization due to its innate ability to degrade a wide array of plant polysaccharides. Bioinformatic analysis of the CJA_2959 gene product from C. japonicus revealed a modular architecture consisting of a fibronectin type III (Fn3) module, a cryptic module of unknown function (X181), and a glycoside hydrolase family 5 subfamily 4 (GH5_4) catalytic module. We previously demonstrated that the last of these, CjGH5F, is an efficient and specific endo-xyloglucanase (M. A. Attia, C. E. Nelson, W. A. Offen, N. Jain, et al., Biotechnol Biofuels 11:45, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-018-1039-6). In the present study, C-terminal fusion of superfolder green fluorescent protein in tandem with the Fn3-X181 modules enabled recombinant production and purification from Escherichia coli. Native affinity gel electrophoresis revealed binding specificity for the terminal galactose-containing plant polysaccharides galactoxyloglucan and galactomannan. Isothermal titration calorimetry further evidenced a preference for galactoxyloglucan polysaccharide over short oligosaccharides comprising the limit-digest products of CjGH5F. Thus, our results identify the X181 module as the defining member of a new CBM family, CBM88. In addition to directly revealing the function of this CBM in the context of xyloglucan metabolism by C. japonicus, this study will guide future bioinformatic and functional analyses across microbial (meta)genomes. IMPORTANCE This study reveals carbohydrate-binding module family 88 (CBM88) as a new family of galactose-binding protein modules, which are found in series with diverse microbial glycoside hydrolases, polysaccharide lyases, and carbohydrate esterases. The definition of CBM88 in the carbohydrate-active enzymes classification (http://www.cazy.org/CBM88.html) will significantly enable future microbial (meta)genome analysis and functional studies.

Cold-Active β-Galactosidases: Insight into Cold Adaption Mechanisms and Biotechnological Exploitation

β-galactosidases (EC 3.2.1.23) catalyze the hydrolysis of β-galactosidic bonds in oligosaccharides and, under certain conditions, transfer a sugar moiety from a glycosyl donor to an acceptor. Cold-active β-galactosidases are identified in microorganisms endemic to permanently low-temperature environments. While mesophilic β-galactosidases are broadly studied and employed for biotechnological purposes, the cold-active enzymes are still scarcely explored, although they may prove very useful in biotechnological processes at low temperature. This review covers several issues related to cold-active β-galactosidases, including their classification, structure and molecular mechanisms of cold adaptation. Moreover, their applications are discussed, focusing on the production of lactose-free dairy products as well as on the valorization of cheese whey and the synthesis of glycosyl building blocks for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Trehalose Degradation by Cellvibrio japonicus Exhibits No Functional Redundancy and Is Solely Dependent on the Tre37A Enzyme

The α-diglucoside trehalose has historically been known as a component of the bacterial stress response, though it more recently has been studied for its relevance in human gut health and biotechnology development. The utilization of trehalose as a nutrient source by bacteria relies on carbohydrate-active enzymes, specifically those of the glycoside hydrolase family 37 (GH37), to degrade the disaccharide into substituent glucose moieties for entry into metabolism. Environmental bacteria using oligosaccharides for nutrients often possess multiple carbohydrate-active enzymes predicted to have the same biochemical activity and therefore are thought to be functionally redundant. In this study, we characterized trehalose degradation by the biotechnologically important saprophytic bacterium Cellvibrio japonicus This bacterium possesses two predicted α-α-trehalase genes, tre37A and tre37B, and our investigation using mutational analysis found that only the former is essential for trehalose utilization by C. japonicus Heterologous expression experiments found that only the expression of the C. japonicus tre37A gene in an Escherichia coli treA mutant strain allowed for full utilization of trehalose. Biochemical characterization of C. japonicus GH37 activity determined that the tre37A gene product is solely responsible for cleaving trehalose and is an acidic α-α-trehalase. Bioinformatic and mutational analyses indicate that Tre37A directly cleaves trehalose to glucose in the periplasm, as C. japonicus does not possess a phosphotransferase system. This study facilitates the development of a comprehensive metabolic model for α-linked disaccharides in C. japonicus and more broadly expands our understanding of the strategies that saprophytic bacteria employ to capture diverse carbohydrates from the environment.IMPORTANCE The metabolism of trehalose is becoming increasingly important due to the inclusion of this α-diglucoside in a number of foods and its prevalence in the environment. Bacteria able to utilize trehalose in the human gut possess a competitive advantage, as do saprophytic microbes in terrestrial environments. While the biochemical mechanism of trehalose degradation is well understood, what is less clear is how bacteria acquire this metabolite from the environment. The significance of this report is that by using the model saprophyte Cellvibrio japonicus, we were able to functionally characterize the two predicted trehalase enzymes that the bacterium possesses and determined that the two enzymes are not equivalent and are not functionally redundant. The results and approaches used to understand the complex physiology of α-diglucoside metabolism from this study can be applied broadly to other polysaccharide-degrading bacteria.

A Novel Two-Component System, XygS/XygR, Positively Regulates Xyloglucan Degradation, Import, and Catabolism in Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum

Cellulolytic microorganisms play a key role in the global carbon cycle by decomposing structurally diverse plant biopolymers from dead plant matter. These microorganisms, in particular anaerobes such as Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum that are capable of degrading and catabolizing several different polysaccharides, require a fine-tuned regulation of the biosynthesis of their polysaccharide-degrading enzymes. In this study, we present a bacterial regulatory system involved in the regulation of genes enabling the metabolism of the ubiquitous plant polysaccharide xyloglucan. The characterization of R. cellulolyticum knockout mutants suggests that the response regulator XygR and its cognate histidine kinase XygS are essential for growth on xyloglucan. Using in vitro and in vivo analyses, we show that XygR binds to the intergenic region and activates the expression of two polycistronic transcriptional units encoding an ABC transporter dedicated to the uptake of xyloglucan oligosaccharides and the two-component system itself together with three intracellular glycoside hydrolases responsible for the sequential intracellular degradation of the imported oligosaccharides into mono- and disaccharides. Interestingly, XygR also upregulates the expression of a distant gene coding for the most active extracellular cellulosomal xyloglucanase of R. cellulolyticum by binding to the upstream intergenic region.IMPORTANCE Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum is a Gram-positive, mesophilic, anaerobic, cellulolytic, and hemicellulolytic bacterium. The last property qualifies this species as a model species for the study of hemicellulose degradation, import of degradation products, and overall regulation of these phenomena. In this study, we focus on the regulation of xyloglucan dextrin import and intracellular degradation and show that the two components of the two-component regulation system XygSR are essential for growth on xyloglucan and that the response regulator XygR regulates the transcription of genes involved in the extracellular degradation of the polysaccharide, the import of degradation products, and their intracellular degradation.

Regulation of alginate catabolism involves a GntR family repressor in the marine flavobacterium Zobellia galactanivorans DsijT

Marine flavobacteria possess dedicated Polysaccharide Utilization Loci (PULs) enabling efficient degradation of a variety of algal polysaccharides. The expression of these PULs is tightly controlled by the presence of the substrate, yet details on the regulatory mechanisms are still lacking. The marine flavobacterium Zobellia galactanivorans Dsij^T digests many algal polysaccharides, including alginate from brown algae. Its complex Alginate Utilization System (AUS) comprises a PUL and several other loci. Here, we showed that the expression of the AUS is strongly and rapidly (<30 min) induced upon addition of alginate, leading to biphasic substrate utilization. Polymeric alginate is first degraded into smaller oligosaccharides that accumulate in the extracellular medium before being assimilated. We found that AusR, a GntR family protein encoded within the PUL, regulates alginate catabolism by repressing the transcription of most AUS genes. Based on our genetic, genomic, transcriptomic and biochemical results, we propose the first model of regulation for a PUL in marine bacteria. AusR binds to promoters of AUS genes via single, double or triple copies of operator. Upon addition of alginate, secreted enzymes expressed at a basal level catalyze the initial breakdown of the polymer. Metabolic intermediates produced during degradation act as effectors of AusR and inhibit the formation of AusR/DNA complexes, thus lifting transcriptional repression.

Identification and characterization of two xyloglucan-specific endo-1,4-glucanases in Aspergillus oryzae

Aspergillus oryzae produces glycoside hydrolases to degrade xyloglucan. We identified and characterized two xyloglucan-specific endo-1,4-glucanases (xyloglucanases) named Xeg12A and Xeg5A. Based on their amino acid sequences, Xeg12A and Xeg5A were classified into glycoside hydrolase families GH12 and GH5, respectively. Xeg12A degrades tamarind seed xyloglucan polysaccharide into xyloglucan oligosaccharides containing four glucopyranosyl residues as main chains, including heptasaccharides (XXXG: Glc₄Xyl₃), octasaccharides (XXLG and XLXG: Glc₄Xyl₃Gal₁), and nonasaccharides (XLLG: Glc₄Xyl₃Gal₂). By contrast, Xeg5A produces various xyloglucan oligosaccharides from xyloglucan. Xeg5A hydrolyzes xyloglucan into not only XXXG, XXLG/XLXG, and XLLG but also disaccharides (isoprimeverose: Glc₁Xyl₁), tetrasaccharides (XX: Glc₂Xyl₂ and LG: Glc₂Xyl₁Gal₁), and so on. Xeg12A is a typical endo-dissociative-type xyloglucanase that repeats hydrolysis and desorption from xyloglucan. Conversely, Xeg5A acts as an endo-processive-type xyloglucanase that hydrolyzes xyloglucan progressively without desorption. These results indicate that although both Xeg12A and Xeg5A contribute to the degradation of xyloglucan, they have different modes of activity toward xyloglucan, and the hydrolysis machinery of Xeg5A is unique compared with that of other known GH5 enzymes. KEY POINTS: • We identified two xyloglucanases, Xeg12A and Xeg5A, in A. oryzae. • Modes of activity and regiospecificities of Xeg12A and Xeg5A were clearly different. • Xeg5A is a unique xyloglucanase that produces low-molecular-weight oligosaccharides.

Mechanistic Insights into the Chaperoning of Human Lysosomal-Galactosidase Activity: Highly Functionalized Aminocyclopentanes and C-5a-Substituted Derivatives of 4-epi-Isofagomine

Glycosidase inhibitors have shown great potential as pharmacological chaperones for lysosomal storage diseases. In light of this, a series of new cyclopentanoid β-galactosidase inhibitors were prepared and their inhibitory and pharmacological chaperoning activities determined and compared with those of lipophilic analogs of the potent β-d-galactosidase inhibitor 4-epi-isofagomine. Structure-activity relationships were investigated by X-ray crystallography as well as by alterations in the cyclopentane moiety such as deoxygenation and replacement by fluorine of a “strategic” hydroxyl group. New compounds have revealed highly promising activities with a range of β-galactosidase-compromised human cell lines and may serve as leads towards new pharmacological chaperones for G_M1-gangliosidosis and Morquio B disease.

Identification and characterization of α-xylosidase involved in xyloglucan degradation in Aspergillus oryzae

Aspergillus oryzae produces hydrolases involved in xyloglucan degradation and induces the expression of genes encoding xyloglucan oligosaccharide hydrolases in the presence of xyloglucan oligosaccharides. A gene encoding α-xylosidase (termed AxyA), which is induced in the presence of xyloglucan oligosaccharides, is identified and expressed in Pichia pastoris. AxyA is a member of the glycoside hydrolase family 31 (GH31). AxyA hydrolyzes isoprimeverose (α-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-D-glucopyranose) into D-xylose and D-glucose and shows hydrolytic activity with other xyloglucan oligosaccharides such as XXXG (heptasaccharide, Glc₄Xyl₃) and XLLG (nonasaccharide, Glc₄Xyl₃Gal₂). Isoprimeverose is a preferred AxyA substrate over other xyloglucan oligosaccharides. In the hydrolysis of XXXG, AxyA releases one molecule of D-xylose from one molecule of XXXG to yield GXXG (hexasaccharide, Glc₄Xyl₂). AxyA does not contain a signal peptide for secretion and remains within the cell. The intracellular localization of AxyA may help determine the order of hydrolases acting on xyloglucan oligosaccharides.

Adaptation of Syntenic Xyloglucan Utilization Loci of Human Gut Bacteroidetes to Polysaccharide Side Chain Diversity

Genome sequencing has revealed substantial variation in the predicted abilities of individual species within animal gut microbiota to metabolize the complex carbohydrates comprising dietary fiber. At the same time, a currently limited body of functional studies precludes a richer understanding of how dietary glycan structures affect the gut microbiota composition and community dynamics. Here, using biochemical and biophysical techniques, we identified and characterized differences among recombinant proteins from syntenic xyloglucan utilization loci (XyGUL) of three Bacteroides and one Dysgonomonas species from the human gut, which drive substrate specificity and access to distinct polysaccharide side chains. Enzymology of four syntenic glycoside hydrolase family 5 subfamily 4 (GH5_4) endo-xyloglucanases revealed surprising differences in xyloglucan (XyG) backbone cleavage specificity, including the ability of some homologs to hydrolyze congested branched positions. Further, differences in the complement of GH43 alpha-l-arabinofuranosidases and GH95 alpha-l-fucosidases among syntenic XyGUL confer distinct abilities to fully saccharify plant species-specific arabinogalactoxyloglucan and/or fucogalactoxyloglucan. Finally, characterization of highly sequence-divergent cell surface glycan-binding proteins (SGBPs) across syntenic XyGUL revealed a novel group of XyG oligosaccharide-specific SGBPs encoded within select BacteroidesIMPORTANCE The catabolism of complex carbohydrates that otherwise escape the endogenous digestive enzymes of humans and other animals drives the composition and function of the gut microbiota. Thus, detailed molecular characterization of dietary glycan utilization systems is essential both to understand the ecology of these complex communities and to manipulate their compositions, e.g., to benefit human health. Our research reveals new insight into how ubiquitous members of the human gut microbiota have evolved a set of microheterogeneous gene clusters to efficiently respond to the structural variations of plant xyloglucans. The data here will enable refined functional prediction of xyloglucan utilization among diverse environmental taxa in animal guts and beyond.

Intrinsic dynamic behavior of enzyme:substrate complexes govern the catalytic action of β-galactosidases across clan GH-A

The conformational itineraries taken by carbohydrate residues in the catalytic subsite of retaining glycoside hydrolases (GHs), harness the link between substrate conformation and reactivity. GHs' active sites may be described as a combination of subsites dedicated to the binding of individual sugar residues and to catalysis. The three-dimensional structure of GH:carbohydrate complexes has demonstrated that carbohydrate ring conformation changes in an ordered manner during catalysis. Here we demonstrate in silico that a link exists between subsite binding dynamics and substrate specificity for β-galactosidases from clan GH-A families GH1, GH2, GH35, GH42 and GH59. Different oligosaccharides were docked in the active site of reference β-galactosidase structures using Vina-Carb. Subsequent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that these enzymes favor a high degree of flexibility and ring distortion of the substrate the lytic subsite -1. Although the β-galactosidase families examined are structurally and mechanistically related, distinct patterns of ring distortion were unveiled for the different families. For β-galactosidases, three different family-dependent reaction itineraries (1S3 → 4H3‡ → 4C1, 1,4B → 4H3/ 4E‡ → 4C1, and 1S5 → 4E/ 4H5‡ → 4C1) were identified, all compatible with the antiperiplanar lone pair hypothesis (ALPH) for the hydrolysis of β-glycosides. This comparative study reveals the fuzzy character of the changes in carbohydrate ring geometry prior to carbohydrate hydrolysis.

Crystal structure and substrate recognition mechanism of Aspergillus oryzae isoprimeverose-producing enzyme

Isoprimeverose-producing enzymes (IPases) release isoprimeverose (α-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-d-glucopyranose) from the non-reducing end of xyloglucan oligosaccharides. Aspergillus oryzae IPase (IpeA) is classified as a member of the glycoside hydrolase family 3 (GH3); however, it has unusual substrate specificity compared with other GH3 enzymes. Xylopyranosyl branching at the non-reducing ends of xyloglucan oligosaccharides is vital for IpeA activity. We solved the crystal structure of IpeA with isoprimeverose at 2.4 Å resolution, showing that the structure of IpeA formed a dimer and was composed of three domains: an N-terminal (β/α)₈ TIM-barrel domain, α/β/α sandwich fold domain, and a C-terminal fibronectin-like domain. The catalytic TIM-barrel domain possessed a catalytic nucleophile (Asp300) and acid/base (Glu524) residues. Interestingly, we found that the cavity of the active site of IpeA was larger than that of other GH3 enzymes, and subsite -1' played an important role in its activity. The glucopyranosyl and xylopyranosyl residues of isoprimeverose were located at subsites -1 and -1', respectively. Gln58 and Tyr89 contributed to the interaction with the xylopyranosyl residue of isoprimeverose through hydrogen bonding and stacking effects, respectively. Our findings provide new insights into the substrate recognition of GH3 enzymes.

Metagenomics reveals functional synergy and novel polysaccharide utilization loci in the Castor canadensis fecal microbiome

The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) has long been considered an engineering marvel, transforming landscapes and shaping biological diversity through its dam building behavior. While the beaver possesses conspicuous morphological features uniquely adapted for the use of woody plants as construction materials and dietary staples, relatively little is known about the specialized microorganisms inhabiting the beaver gastrointestinal tract and their functional roles in determining host nutrition. Here we use a combination of shotgun metagenomics, functional screening and carbohydrate biochemistry to chart the community structure and metabolic power of the beaver fecal microbiome. We relate this information to the metabolic capacity of other wood feeding and hindgut fermenting organisms and profile the functional repertoire of glycoside hydrolase (GH) families distributed among and between population genome bins. Metagenomic screening revealed novel mechanisms of xylan oligomer degradation involving GH43 enzymes from uncharacterized subfamilies and divergent polysaccharide utilization loci, indicating the potential for synergistic biomass deconstruction. Together, these results open a functional metagenomic window on less conspicuous adaptations enabling the beaver microbiome to efficiently convert woody plants into host nutrition and point toward rational design of enhanced enzyme mixtures for biorefining process streams.

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: An update for 2013-2014

This review is the eighth update of the original article published in 1999 on the application of Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI) mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2014. Topics covered in the first part of the review include general aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, fragmentation, and arrays. The second part of the review is devoted to applications to various structural types such as oligo- and poly- saccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides, and biopharmaceuticals. Much of this material is presented in tabular form. The third part of the review covers medical and industrial applications of the technique, studies of enzyme reactions, and applications to chemical synthesis. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 37:353-491, 2018.

In vitro and in vivo characterization of three Cellvibrio japonicus glycoside hydrolase family 5 members reveals potent xyloglucan backbone-cleaving functions

BACKGROUND

Xyloglucan (XyG) is a ubiquitous and fundamental polysaccharide of plant cell walls. Due to its structural complexity, XyG requires a combination of backbone-cleaving and sidechain-debranching enzymes for complete deconstruction into its component monosaccharides. The soil saprophyte Cellvibrio japonicus has emerged as a genetically tractable model system to study biomass saccharification, in part due to its innate capacity to utilize a wide range of plant polysaccharides for growth. Whereas the downstream debranching enzymes of the xyloglucan utilization system of C. japonicus have been functionally characterized, the requisite backbone-cleaving endo-xyloglucanases were unresolved.

RESULTS

Combined bioinformatic and transcriptomic analyses implicated three glycoside hydrolase family 5 subfamily 4 (GH5_4) members, with distinct modular organization, as potential keystone endo-xyloglucanases in C. japonicus. Detailed biochemical and enzymatic characterization of the GH5_4 modules of all three recombinant proteins confirmed particularly high specificities for the XyG polysaccharide versus a panel of other cell wall glycans, including mixed-linkage beta-glucan and cellulose. Moreover, product analysis demonstrated that all three enzymes generated XyG oligosaccharides required for subsequent saccharification by known exo-glycosidases. Crystallographic analysis of GH5D, which was the only GH5_4 member specifically and highly upregulated during growth on XyG, in free, product-complex, and active-site affinity-labelled forms revealed the molecular basis for the exquisite XyG specificity among these GH5_4 enzymes. Strikingly, exhaustive reverse-genetic analysis of all three GH5_4 members and a previously biochemically characterized GH74 member failed to reveal a growth defect, thereby indicating functional compensation in vivo, both among members of this cohort and by other, yet unidentified, xyloglucanases in C. japonicus. Our systems-based analysis indicates distinct substrate-sensing (GH74, GH5E, GH5F) and attack-mounting (GH5D) functions for the endo-xyloglucanases characterized here.

CONCLUSIONS

Through a multi-faceted, molecular systems-based approach, this study provides a new insight into the saccharification pathway of xyloglucan utilization system of C. japonicus. The detailed structural-functional characterization of three distinct GH5_4 endo-xyloglucanases will inform future bioinformatic predictions across species, and provides new CAZymes with defined specificity that may be harnessed in industrial and other biotechnological applications.

Comprehensive functional characterization of the glycoside hydrolase family 3 enzymes from Cellvibrio japonicus reveals unique metabolic roles in biomass saccharification

Lignocellulose degradation is central to the carbon cycle and renewable biotechnologies. The xyloglucan (XyG), β(1→3)/β(1→4) mixed-linkage glucan (MLG) and β(1→3) glucan components of lignocellulose represent significant carbohydrate energy sources for saprophytic microorganisms. The bacterium Cellvibrio japonicus has a robust capacity for plant polysaccharide degradation, due to a genome encoding a large contingent of Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes), many of whose specific functions remain unknown. Using a comprehensive genetic and biochemical approach, we have delineated the physiological roles of the four C. japonicus glycoside hydrolase family 3 (GH3) members on diverse β-glucans. Despite high protein sequence similarity and partially overlapping activity profiles on disaccharides, these β-glucosidases are not functionally equivalent. Bgl3A has a major role in MLG and sophorose utilization, and supports β(1→3) glucan utilization, while Bgl3B underpins cellulose utilization and supports MLG utilization. Bgl3C drives β(1→3) glucan utilization. Finally, Bgl3D is the crucial β-glucosidase for XyG utilization. This study not only sheds the light on the metabolic machinery of C. japonicus, but also expands the repertoire of characterized CAZymes for future deployment in biotechnological applications. In particular, the precise functional analysis provided here serves as a reference for informed bioinformatics on the genomes of other Cellvibrio and related species.

Polysaccharide Utilization Loci: Fueling Microbial Communities

The complex carbohydrates of terrestrial and marine biomass represent a rich nutrient source for free-living and mutualistic microbes alike. The enzymatic saccharification of these diverse substrates is of critical importance for fueling a variety of complex microbial communities, including marine, soil, ruminant, and monogastric microbiota. Consequently, highly specific carbohydrate-active enzymes, recognition proteins, and transporters are enriched in the genomes of certain species and are of critical importance in competitive environments. In Bacteroidetes bacteria, these systems are organized as polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs), which are strictly regulated, colocalized gene clusters that encode enzyme and protein ensembles required for the saccharification of complex carbohydrates. This review provides historical perspectives and summarizes key findings in the study of these systems, highlighting a critical shift from sequence-based PUL discovery to systems-based analyses combining reverse genetics, biochemistry, enzymology, and structural biology to precisely illuminate the molecular mechanisms underpinning PUL function. The ecological implications of dynamic PUL deployment by key species in the human gastrointestinal tract are explored, as well as the wider distribution of these systems in other gut, terrestrial, and marine environments.

Quantitative Kinetic Characterization of Glycoside Hydrolases Using High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography (HPAEC)

High-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled to pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) is a powerful analytical technique enabling the high-resolution separation and sensitive quantification of oligosaccharides. Here, we describe a general method for the determination of glycoside hydrolase kinetics that harnesses the intrinsic power of HPAEC-PAD to simultaneously monitor the release of multiple products under conditions of low substrate conversion. Thus, the ability to track product release under initial-rate conditions with substrate concentrations as low as 5 μM enables the determination of Michaelis-Menten kinetics for glycosidase activities, including hydrolysis and transglycosylation. This technique may also be readily extended to other carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), including polysaccharide lyases, and glycosyl transferases.

Systems analysis in Cellvibrio japonicus resolves predicted redundancy of β-glucosidases and determines essential physiological functions

Degradation of polysaccharides forms an essential arc in the carbon cycle, provides a percentage of our daily caloric intake, and is a major driver in the renewable chemical industry. Microorganisms proficient at degrading insoluble polysaccharides possess large numbers of carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes), many of which have been categorized as functionally redundant. Here we present data that suggests that CAZymes that have overlapping enzymatic activities can have unique, non-overlapping biological functions in the cell. Our comprehensive study to understand cellodextrin utilization in the soil saprophyte Cellvibrio japonicus found that only one of four predicted β-glucosidases is required in a physiological context. Gene deletion analysis indicated that only the cel3B gene product is essential for efficient cellodextrin utilization in C. japonicus and is constitutively expressed at high levels. Interestingly, expression of individual β-glucosidases in Escherichia coli K-12 enabled this non-cellulolytic bacterium to be fully capable of using cellobiose as a sole carbon source. Furthermore, enzyme kinetic studies indicated that the Cel3A enzyme is significantly more active than the Cel3B enzyme on the oligosaccharides but not disaccharides. Our approach for parsing related CAZymes to determine actual physiological roles in the cell can be applied to other polysaccharide-degradation systems.

Towards broad spectrum activity-based glycosidase probes: synthesis and evaluation of deoxygenated cyclophellitol aziridines

Deoxygenated cyclophellitol aziridines enable activity-based inter-class labeling of glycosidases including LC-MS/MS identification.

Learning from microbial strategies for polysaccharide degradation

Complex carbohydrates are ubiquitous in all kingdoms of life. As major components of the plant cell wall they constitute both a rich renewable carbon source for biotechnological transformation into fuels, chemicals and materials, and also form an important energy source as part of a healthy human diet. In both contexts, there has been significant, sustained interest in understanding how microbes transform these substrates. Classical perspectives of microbial polysaccharide degradation are currently being augmented by recent advances in the discovery of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) and polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs). Fundamental discoveries in carbohydrate enzymology are both advancing biological understanding, as well as informing applications in industrial biomass conversion and modulation of the human gut microbiota to mediate health benefits.

Purification, expression and characterization of a novel α-l-fucosidase from a marine bacteria Wenyingzhuangia fucanilytica

α-l-Fucosyl residues are frequently found in oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and glycoconjugates which play fundamental roles in various biological processes. α-l-Fucosidases, glycoside hydrolases for catalyzing the removal of α-l-fucose, can serve as desirable tools in the study and the modification of fucose-containing biomolecules. In this study, an α-l-fucosidase named as Alf1_Wf was purified from a marine bacterium Wenyingzhuangia fucanilytica by using a combination of chromatographic procedures. The sequence of Alf1_Wf was identified via proteomics analysis against the predicted proteome of the bacterium. Recombinant Alf1_Wf with 6×His tag was expressed in E. coli and showed α-l-fucosidase activity. Sequence annotation revealed that Alf1_Wf contained a combination of GH29 catalytic domain and CBM35 accessory domain. Alf1_Wf was confirmed as a member of GH29-A subfamily based on the phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, biochemical properties and kinetic characteristics of the enzyme were also determined. Substrate specificity determination showed that Alf1_Wf was capable in hydrolyzing α1,4-fucosidic linkage and synthetic substrate pNP-fucose. Besides, Alf1_Wf could act on partially degraded fucoidan. This study successfully purified, identified, cloned, expressed and characterized a novel α-l-fucosidase, and meanwhile revealed a new multidomain structure of glycoside hydrolase. The knowledge gained from this study should facilitate the further research and application of α-l-fucosidases.

Structural and mechanistic insights into a Bacteroides vulgatus retaining N-acetyl-β-galactosaminidase that uses neighbouring group participation

Bacteroides vulgatus is a member of the human microbiota whose abundance is increased in patients with Crohn's disease. We show that a B. vulgatus glycoside hydrolase from the carbohydrate active enzyme family GH123, BvGH123, is an N-acetyl-β-galactosaminidase that acts with retention of stereochemistry, and, through a 3-D structure in complex with Gal-thiazoline, provide evidence in support of a neighbouring group participation mechanism.