Evidence for temporal regulation of the two Pseudomonas cellulosa xylanases belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 11

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.

Optimization of xylanase from Pseudomonas mohnii isolated from Simlipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, using response surface methodology

Background

Xylanase has long been recognized as a widely used industrially important enzyme. There are some bacterial species already reported to produce xylanase which have potent xylanolytic activity towards the use of this enzyme in the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. In this view, an efficient xylanolytic bacterial strain was isolated and screened from the soil sample of Simlipal Biosphere Reserve. Enzymatic assay for the xylanase activity was evidenced from the most potent bacterial strain, and the culture condition was optimized for obtaining the maximum enzyme activity. The most potent xylanolytic strain was also identified using biochemical and molecular methods.

Results

Nineteen xylanolytic bacteria (SXB1-SXB19) were isolated from Simlipal forest soil samples following dilution plate technique using corn cob xylan-enriched nutrient agar medium and screened for their xylanase-producing ability. Among these isolates, SXB19 showed maximum xylanolytic potential with a halozone size of 2.5 cm as evident in the formation of prominent yellow patches surrounding its growth in xylan-enriched nutrient agar plate. In unoptimized condition, SXB19 showed the highest enzymatic activity of 22.5 IU/ml among the 19 bacterial strains. In order to optimize the culture conditions for maximizing the xylanase production, Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM) was used. Four variables such as incubation time, pH, substrate (corn cob xylan) concentration, and temperature were considered for the RSM optimization study. From the results, it is evident that in an optimized condition of incubation time 36 h, pH 6.0, xylan concentration 0.5%, and temperature 42.5 °C, the enzyme activity reached a maximum of 152 IU/ml with nearly 6.75 times increase from the unoptimised condition. Besides, xylanase production from SXB19 was considerable in the presence of xylan followed by starch, nitrogen source such as urea followed by yeast extract, and mineral ion sources such as KCl followed by MgSO₄ and ZnSO₄. From different biochemical tests, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis, the bacterial strain SXB19 was identified as Pseudomonas mohnii.

Conclusion

The isolation of Pseudomonas mohnii, a potent xylanolytic bacterium from Simlipal, is a new report which opens up an opportunity for industrial production of xylanase for bioethanol production and other applications.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43141-020-00099-7.

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.

Biobleaching of paper pulp with xylanase produced by Trichoderma asperellum

This study is aimed at assessing the biobleaching activity of fungal xylanase on paper pulp isolated from Tirumala forest, Eastern Ghats of India. Of the 98 fungal isolates obtained after initial screening, eight isolates were selected and one potential strain was further cultivated under submerged fermentation for production of xylanase. The biobleaching efficiency on waste paper pulp and paper industry effluent was tested with crude enzyme. Xylanolytic activity by the chosen organism in submerged fermentation reached the maximum (981.1 U ml^-1) on the 5th day of incubation. Molecular characterisation of the isolate led to its identification as Trichoderma asperellum which exhibited the production of enzyme even at alkaline pH of the culture medium. Xylanase pretreatment of paper pulp had shown reduction in the Kappa number by 4.2 points and increased brightness by 4.0 points. FTIR and SEM studies revealed loosening of pulp fibres after enzyme treatment. In conclusion, xylanase of Trichoderma asperellum was effective as a pulp biobleaching agent and the process is economical as well as eco-friendly.

Polysaccharide degradation systems of the saprophytic bacterium Cellvibrio japonicus

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

Characterization of a xylanase-producing Cellvibrio mixtus strain J3-8 and its genome analysis

Cellvibrio mixtus strain J3-8 is a gram-negative, xylanase-producing aerobic soil bacterium isolated from giant snails in Singapore. It is able to produce up to 10.1 U ml⁻¹ of xylanase, which is comparable to xylanase production from known bacterial and fungal strains. Genome sequence analysis of strain J3-8 reveals that the assembled draft genome contains 5,171,890 bp with a G + C content of 46.66%, while open reading frame (ORF) annotations indicate a high density of genes encoding glycoside hydrolase (GH) families involved in (hemi)cellulose hydrolysis. On the basis of 15 identified putative xylanolytic genes, one metabolic pathway in strain J3-8 is constructed for utilization of xylan. In addition, a 1,083 bp xylanase gene from strain J3-8 represents a new member of GH11 family. This gene is verified to be novel via phylogenetic analysis. To utilize this novel gene for hydrolysis of xylan to xylose, it is expressed in recombinant E. coli and characterized for its hydrolytic activity. This study shows that strain J3-8 is a potential candidate for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials.

Dynamic study of how the bacterial breakdown of plant cell walls allows the reconstitution of efficient hemicellulasic cocktails

Designing more efficient mixtures of enzymes is necessary to produce molecules of interest from biomass lignocellulosic fractionation. The present study aims to investigate the strategies used by the thermophilic and hemicellulolytic bacterium Thermobacillus xylanilyticus to fractionate wheat bran and wheat straw during its growth. Results demonstrated ratios and levels of hemicellulases produced varied during growth on both biomasses. Xylanase activity was mainly produced during stationary stages of growth whereas esterase and arabinosidase activities were detected earlier. This enzymatic profile is correlated with the expression pattern of genes encoding four hemicellulases (two xylanases, one arabinosidase and one esterase) produced by T. xylanilyticus during growth. Based on identification of the bacterial strategy, the synergistic efficiency of the four hemicellulases during the hydrolysis of both substrates was evaluated. The four hemicellulases worked together with high degree of synergy and released high amounts of xylose, arabinose and phenolic acids from wheat bran and wheat straw.

Comparative evaluation of the gut microbiota associated with the below- and above-ground life stages (larvae and beetles) of the forest cockchafer, Melolontha hippocastani

A comparison of the diversity of bacterial communities in the larval midgut and adult gut of the European forest cockchafer (Melolontha hippocastani) was carried out using approaches that were both dependent on and independent of cultivation. Clone libraries of the 16S rRNA gene revealed 150 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that belong to 11 taxonomical classes and two other groups that could be classified only to the phylum level. The most abundant classes were β, δ and γ-proteobacteria, Clostridia, Bacilli, Erysipelotrichi and Sphingobacteria. Although the insect’s gut is emptied in the prepupal stage and the beetle undergoes a long diapause period, a subset of eight taxonomic classes from the aforementioned eleven were found to be common in the guts of diapausing adults and the larval midguts (L2, L3). Moreover, several bacterial phylotypes belonging to these common bacterial classes were found to be shared by the larval midgut and the adult gut. Despite this, the adult gut bacterial community represented a subset of that found in the larvae midgut. Consequently, the midgut of the larval instars contains a more diverse bacterial community compared to the adult gut. On the other hand, after the bacteria present in the larvae were cultivated, eight bacterial species were isolated. Moreover, we found evidence of the active role of some of the bacterial species isolated in food digestion, namely, the presence of amylase and xylanolytic properties. Finally, fluorescence in situ hybridization allowed us to confirm the presence of selected species in the insect gut and through this, their ecological niche as well as the metagenomic results. The results presented here elucidated the heterogeneity of aerobic and facultative bacteria in the gut of a holometabolous insect species having two different feeding habits.

Production of xylanases by mangrove fungi from the Philippines and their application in enzymatic pretreatment of recycled paper pulps

Mangrove fungi are vastly unexplored for enzymes with industrial application. This study aimed to assess the biocatalytic activity of mangrove fungal xylanases on recycled paper pulp. Forty-four mangrove fungal (MF) isolates were initially screened for xylanolytic activity in minimal medium with corn cob xylan as the sole carbon source. Eight MF were further cultivated under submerged fermentation for the production of crude xylanases. These crude enzymes were then characterized and tested for the pretreatment of recycled paper pulps. Results showed that 93 % of the tested MF isolates exhibited xylanolytic activity in solid medium. In submerged fermentation, salinity improved the growth of the fungal isolates but did not influence xylanase production. The crude xylanases were mostly optimally active at 50 °C and pH 7. Changes in pH had a greater effect on xylanase stability than temperature. More than half of the activity was lost at pH 9 for majority of the crude enzymes. However, two thermophilic xylanases from Fusarium sp. KAWIT-A and Aureobasidium sp. 2LIPA-M and one alkaliphilic xylanase from Phomopsis sp. MACA-J were also produced. All crude enzymes exhibited cellulase activities ranging from 4 to 21 U/ml. Enzymatic pretreatment of recycled paper pulps with 5 % consistency produced 70-650 mg of reducing sugars per gram of pulp at 50 °C after 60 min. The release of high amounts of reducing sugars showed the potential of mangrove fungal crude xylanases in the local paper and pulp industry. The diverse properties shown by the tested crude enzymes also indicate its potential applications to other enzyme-requiring industries.

GH11 xylanases: Structure/function/properties relationships and applications

For technical, environmental and economical reasons, industrial demands for process-fitted enzymes have evolved drastically in the last decade. Therefore, continuous efforts are made in order to get insights into enzyme structure/function relationships to create improved biocatalysts. Xylanases are hemicellulolytic enzymes, which are responsible for the degradation of the heteroxylans constituting the lignocellulosic plant cell wall. Due to their variety, xylanases have been classified in glycoside hydrolase families GH5, GH8, GH10, GH11, GH30 and GH43 in the CAZy database. In this review, we focus on GH11 family, which is one of the best characterized GH families with bacterial and fungal members considered as true xylanases compared to the other families because of their high substrate specificity. Based on an exhaustive analysis of the sequences and 3D structures available so far, in relation with biochemical properties, we assess biochemical aspects of GH11 xylanases: structure, catalytic machinery, focus on their "thumb" loop of major importance in catalytic efficiency and substrate selectivity, inhibition, stability to pH and temperature. GH11 xylanases have for a long time been used as biotechnological tools in various industrial applications and represent in addition promising candidates for future other uses.

Circular permutation provides an evolutionary link between two families of calcium-dependent carbohydrate binding modules

The microbial deconstruction of the plant cell wall is a critical biological process, which also provides important substrates for environmentally sustainable industries. Enzymes that hydrolyze the plant cell wall generally contain non-catalytic carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) that contribute to plant cell wall degradation. Here we report the biochemical properties and crystal structure of a family of CBMs (CBM60) that are located in xylanases. Uniquely, the proteins display broad ligand specificity, targeting xylans, galactans, and cellulose. Some of the CBM60s display enhanced affinity for their ligands through avidity effects mediated by protein dimerization. The crystal structure of vCBM60, displays a β-sandwich with the ligand binding site comprising a broad cleft formed by the loops connecting the two β-sheets. Ligand recognition at site 1 is, exclusively, through hydrophobic interactions, whereas binding at site 2 is conferred by polar interactions between a protein-bound calcium and the O2 and O3 of the sugar. The observation, that ligand recognition at site 2 requires only a β-linked sugar that contains equatorial hydroxyls at C2 and C3, explains the broad ligand specificity displayed by vCBM60. The ligand-binding apparatus of vCBM60 displays remarkable structural conservation with a family 36 CBM (CBM36); however, the residues that contribute to carbohydrate recognition are derived from different regions of the two proteins. Three-dimensional structure-based sequence alignments reveal that CBM36 and CBM60 are related by circular permutation. The biological and evolutionary significance of the mechanism of ligand recognition displayed by family 60 CBMs is discussed.

Requirement of the type II secretion system for utilization of cellulosic substrates by Cellvibrio japonicus

Cellulosic biofuels represent a powerful alternative to petroleum but are currently limited by the inefficiencies of the conversion process. While gram-positive and fungal organisms have been widely explored as sources of cellulases and hemicellulases for biomass degradation, gram-negative organisms have received less experimental attention. We investigated the ability of Cellvibrio japonicus, a recently sequenced gram-negative cellulolytic bacterium, to degrade bioenergy-related feedstocks. Using a newly developed biomass medium, we showed that C. japonicus is able to utilize corn stover and switchgrass as sole sources of carbon and energy for growth. We also developed tools for directed gene disruptions in C. japonicus and used this system to construct a mutant in the gspD gene, which is predicted to encode a component of the type II secretion system. The gspD::pJGG1 mutant displayed a greater-than-2-fold decrease in endoglucanase secretion compared to wild-type C. japonicus. In addition, the mutant strain showed a pronounced growth defect in medium with biomass as a carbon source, yielding 100-fold fewer viable cells than the wild type. To test the potential of C. japonicus to undergo metabolic engineering, we constructed a strain able to produce small amounts of ethanol from biomass. Collectively, these data suggest that C. japonicus is a useful platform for biomass conversion and biofuel production.

The Cellvibrio japonicus mannanase CjMan26C displays a unique exo-mode of action that is conferred by subtle changes to the distal region of the active site

The microbial degradation of the plant cell wall is a pivotal biological process that is of increasing industrial significance. One of the major plant structural polysaccharides is mannan, a beta-1,4-linked d-mannose polymer, which is hydrolyzed by endo- and exo-acting mannanases. The mechanisms by which the exo-acting enzymes target the chain ends of mannan and how galactose decorations influence activity are poorly understood. Here we report the crystal structure and biochemical properties of CjMan26C, a Cellvibrio japonicus GH26 mannanase. The exo-acting enzyme releases the disaccharide mannobiose from the nonreducing end of mannan and mannooligosaccharides, harnessing four mannose-binding subsites extending from -2 to +2. The structure of CjMan26C is very similar to that of the endo-acting C. japonicus mannanase CjMan26A. The exo-activity displayed by CjMan26C, however, reflects a subtle change in surface topography in which a four-residue extension of surface loop creates a steric block at the distal glycone -2 subsite. endo-Activity can be introduced into enzyme variants through truncation of an aspartate side chain, a component of a surface loop, or by removing both the aspartate and its flanking residues. The structure of catalytically competent CjMan26C, in complex with a decorated manno-oligosaccharide, reveals a predominantly unhydrolyzed substrate in an approximate (1)S(5) conformation. The complex structure helps to explain how the substrate "side chain" decorations greatly reduce the activity of the enzyme; the galactose side chain at the -1 subsite makes polar interactions with the aglycone mannose, possibly leading to suboptimal binding and impaired leaving group departure. This report reveals how subtle differences in the loops surrounding the active site of a glycoside hydrolase can lead to a change in the mode of action of the enzyme.

Regulation of the xylan-degrading apparatus of Cellvibrio japonicus by a novel two-component system

The microbial degradation of lignocellulose biomass is not only an important biological process but is of increasing industrial significance in the bioenergy sector. The mechanism by which the plant cell wall, an insoluble composite structure, activates the extensive repertoire of microbial hydrolytic enzymes required to catalyze its degradation is poorly understood. Here we have used a transposon mutagenesis strategy to identify a genetic locus, consisting of two genes that modulate the expression of xylan side chain-degrading enzymes in the saprophytic bacterium Cellvibrio japonicus. Significantly, the locus encodes a two-component signaling system, designated AbfS (sensor histidine kinase) and AbfR (response regulator). The AbfR/S two-component system is required to activate the expression of the suite of enzymes that remove the numerous side chains from xylan, but not the xylanases that hydrolyze the beta1,4-linked xylose polymeric backbone of this polysaccharide. Studies on the recombinant sensor domain of AbfS (AbfS(SD)) showed that it bound to decorated xylans and arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides, but not to undecorated xylo-oligosaccharides or other plant structural polysaccharides/oligosaccharides. The crystal structure of AbfS(SD) was determined to a resolution of 2.6A(.) The overall fold of AbfS(SD) is that of a classical Per Arndt Sim domain with a central antiparallel four-stranded beta-sheet flanked by alpha-helices. Our data expand the number of molecules known to bind to the sensor domain of two-component histidine kinases to include complex carbohydrates. The biological rationale for a regulatory system that induces enzymes that remove the side chains of xylan, but not the hydrolases that cleave the backbone of the polysaccharide, is discussed.

Insights into plant cell wall degradation from the genome sequence of the soil bacterium Cellvibrio japonicus

The plant cell wall, which consists of a highly complex array of interconnecting polysaccharides, is the most abundant source of organic carbon in the biosphere. Microorganisms that degrade the plant cell wall synthesize an extensive portfolio of hydrolytic enzymes that display highly complex molecular architectures. To unravel the intricate repertoire of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes synthesized by the saprophytic soil bacterium Cellvibrio japonicus, we sequenced and analyzed its genome, which predicts that the bacterium contains the complete repertoire of enzymes required to degrade plant cell wall and storage polysaccharides. Approximately one-third of these putative proteins (57) are predicted to contain carbohydrate binding modules derived from 13 of the 49 known families. Sequence analysis reveals approximately 130 predicted glycoside hydrolases that target the major structural and storage plant polysaccharides. In common with that of the colonic prokaryote Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, the genome of C. japonicus is predicted to encode a large number of GH43 enzymes, suggesting that the extensive arabinose decorations appended to pectins and xylans may represent a major nutrient source, not just for intestinal bacteria but also for microorganisms that occupy terrestrial ecosystems. The results presented here predict that C. japonicus possesses an extensive range of glycoside hydrolases, lyases, and esterases. Most importantly, the genome of C. japonicus is remarkably similar to that of the gram-negative marine bacterium, Saccharophagus degradans 2-40(T). Approximately 50% of the predicted C. japonicus plant-degradative apparatus appears to be shared with S. degradans, consistent with the utilization of plant-derived complex carbohydrates as a major substrate by both organisms.

An Esterase Gene from Lactobacillus casei Cotranscribed with Genes Encoding a Phosphoenolpyruvate:Sugar Phosphotransferase System and Regulated by a LevR-Like Activator and σ54 Factor

A new esterase-encoding gene was found in the draft genome sequence of Lactobacillus casei BL23 (CECT5275). It is located in an operon together with genes encoding the EIIA, EIIB, EIIC, and EIID proteins of a mannose class phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system. After overproduction in Escherichia coli and purification, the esterase could hydrolyze acetyl sugars, hence the operon was named esu for esterase-sugar uptake genes. Upstream of the genes encoding the EII components (esuABCD) and the esterase (esuE), two genes transcribed in the opposite sense were found which encode a Bacillus subtilis LevR-like transcriptional activator (esuR) and a sigma54-like transcriptional factor (rpoN). As compared with the wild-type strain, elevated fructose phosphorylation was detected in L. casei mutants constitutively expressing the esu operon. However, none of the many sugars tested could induce the esu operon. The fact that EsuE exhibits esterase activity on acetyl sugars suggests that this operon could be involved in the uptake and metabolism of esterified sugars. Expression of the esu operon is similar to that of the B. subtilis lev operon: it contains a -12,-24 consensus promoter typical of sigma54-regulated genes, and EsuR and RpoN are essential for its transcription which is negatively regulated by EIIB(Esu). The esuABCDE transcription unit represents the first sigma54-regulated operon in lactobacilli. Furthermore, replacement of His852 in the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system regulation domain II of EsuR with Ala indicated that the transcription activator function of EsuR is inhibited by EIIB(Esu)-mediated phosphorylation at His852.

Heterologous expression, purification, crystallization, X-ray analysis and phasing of the acetyl xylan esterase from Bacillus pumilus

Bacillus pumilus PS213 acetyl xylan esterase (AXE) acts as an accessory enzyme in the plant cell wall hemicellulose biodegradation pathway. It belongs to the carbohydrate esterase family 7 and hydrolyses the ester linkages of the acetyl groups in position 2 and/or 3 of the xylose moieties of the acetylated xylan fragments from hardwood. The enzyme displays activity towards a broad range of acetylated compounds including the antibiotic cephalosporin-C. In this study we report the heterologous expression, purification, physicochemical characterization and crystallization of the recombinant B. pumilus AXE. Remarkable improvement of the crystal quality was achieved by setting up crystallization conditions, at first established using the hanging drop vapor diffusion method, in a micro-batch experiment. Rod-like diffraction quality crystals were obtained using 10% PEG 6000, 0.1 M MES pH 6.0 and a wide range of LiCl concentrations (0.2-1.0 M) as precipitant agent. Two different crystal forms, both belonging to space group P2(1), were characterized, diffracting X-rays to 2.5 and 1.9 angstrom resolution. Successful molecular replacement showed 12 molecules in the asymmetric unit of either crystal forms that are arranged as two doughnut-like hexamers, each one encompassing a local 32 symmetry. A catalytic inactive mutant Ser181Ala of B. pumilus AXE was also engineered, expressed, purified and crystallized for functional and structural studies.

The Use of Forced Protein Evolution to Investigate and Improve Stability of Family 10 Xylanases

Metal ions such as calcium often play a key role in protein thermostability. The inclusion of metal ions in industrial processes is, however, problematic. Thus, the evolution of enzymes that display enhanced stability, which is not reliant on divalent metals, is an important biotechnological goal. Here we have used forced protein evolution to interrogate whether the stabilizing effect of calcium in an industrially relevant enzyme can be replaced with amino acid substitutions. Our study has focused on the GH10 xylanase CjXyn10A from Cellvibrio japonicus, which contains an extended calcium binding loop that confers proteinase resistance and thermostability. Three rounds of error-prone PCR and selection identified a treble mutant, D262N/A80T/R347C, which in the absence of calcium is more thermostable than wild type CjXyn10A bound to the divalent metal. D262N influences the properties of the calcium binding site, A80T fills a cavity in the enzyme, increasing the number of hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions, and the R347C mutation introduces a disulfide bond that decreases the free energy of the unfolded enzyme. A derivative of CjXyn10A (CfCjXyn10A) in which the calcium binding loop has been replaced with a much shorter loop from Cellulomonas fimi CfXyn10A was also subjected to forced protein evolution to select for thermostablizing mutations. Two amino acid substitutions within the introduced loop and the A80T mutation increased the thermostability of the enzyme. This study demonstrates how forced protein evolution can be used to introduce enhanced stability into industrially relevant enzymes while removing calcium as a major stability determinant.

Structural and biochemical analysis of Cellvibrio japonicus xylanase 10C: how variation in substrate-binding cleft influences the catalytic profile of family GH-10 xylanases

Microbial degradation of the plant cell wall is the primary mechanism by which carbon is utilized in the biosphere. The hydrolysis of xylan, by endo-beta-1,4-xylanases (xylanases), is one of the key reactions in this process. Although amino acid sequence variations are evident in the substrate binding cleft of "family GH10" xylanases (see afmb.cnrs-mrs.fr/CAZY/), their biochemical significance is unclear. The Cellvibrio japonicus GH10 xylanase CjXyn10C is a bi-modular enzyme comprising a GH10 catalytic module and a family 15 carbohydrate-binding module. The three-dimensional structure at 1.85 A, presented here, shows that the sequence joining the two modules is disordered, confirming that linker sequences in modular glycoside hydrolases are highly flexible. CjXyn10C hydrolyzes xylan at a rate similar to other previously described GH10 enzymes but displays very low activity against xylooligosaccharides. The poor activity on short substrates reflects weak binding at the -2 subsite of the enzyme. Comparison of CjXyn10C with other family GH10 enzymes reveals "polymorphisms" in the substrate binding cleft including a glutamate/glycine substitution at the -2 subsite and a tyrosine insertion in the -2/-3 glycone region of the substrate binding cleft, both of which contribute to the unusual properties of the enzyme. The CjXyn10C-substrate complex shows that Tyr-340 stacks against the xylose residue located at the -3 subsite, and the properties of Y340A support the view that this tyrosine plays a pivotal role in substrate binding at this location. The generic importance of using CjXyn10C as a template in predicting the biochemical properties of GH10 xylanases is discussed.

Microbial hemicellulases

Hemicellulases are a diverse group of enzymes that hydrolyze hemicelluloses--one of the most abundant groups of polysaccharide in nature. These enzymes have many biotechnological applications and their structure/function relationships are a subject of intense research. During the past year, new high-resolution structures of catalytic and non-catalytic domains of hemicellulases have been elucidated, and, together with biochemical studies, they reveal the principles of catalysis and specificity for these enzymes.

The modular architecture of Cellvibrio japonicus mannanases in glycoside hydrolase families 5 and 26 points to differences in their role in mannan degradation

beta-1,4-Mannanases (mannanases), which hydrolyse mannans and glucomannans, are located in glycoside hydrolase families (GHs) 5 and 26. To investigate whether there are fundamental differences in the molecular architecture and biochemical properties of GH5 and GH26 mannanases, four genes encoding these enzymes were isolated from Cellvibrio japonicus and the encoded glycoside hydrolases were characterized. The four genes, man5A, man5B, man5C and man26B, encode the mannanases Man5A, Man5B, Man5C and Man26B, respectively. Man26B consists of an N-terminal signal peptide linked via an extended serine-rich region to a GH26 catalytic domain. Man5A, Man5B and Man5C contain GH5 catalytic domains and non-catalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) belonging to families 2a, 5 and 10; Man5C in addition contains a module defined as X4 of unknown function. The family 10 and 2a CBMs bound to crystalline cellulose and ivory nut crystalline mannan, displaying very similar properties to the corresponding family 10 and 2a CBMs from Cellvibrio cellulases and xylanases. CBM5 bound weakly to these crystalline polysaccharides. The catalytic domains of Man5A, Man5B and Man26B hydrolysed galactomannan and glucomannan, but displayed no activity against crystalline mannan or cellulosic substrates. Although Man5C was less active against glucomannan and galactomannan than the other mannanases, it did attack crystalline ivory nut mannan. All the enzymes exhibited classic endo-activity producing a mixture of oligosaccharides during the initial phase of the reaction, although their mode of action against manno-oligosaccharides and glucomannan indicated differences in the topology of the respective substrate-binding sites. This report points to a different role for GH5 and GH26 mannanases from C. japonicus. We propose that as the GH5 enzymes contain CBMs that bind crystalline polysaccharides, these enzymes are likely to target mannans that are integral to the plant cell wall, while GH26 mannanases, which lack CBMs and rapidly release mannose from polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, target the storage polysaccharide galactomannan and manno-oligosaccharides.

Is Pseudobutyrivibrio xylanivorans strain Mz5T suitable as a probiotic? An in vitro study

Rumen bacterium Pseudobutyrivibrio xylanivorans strain Mz5T possessed a potent xylanolytic enzyme system consisting of at least 7 different xylan hydrolases with molar mass 27-145 kDa. Three of them were successfully isolated in active native form. This strain produced butyrate and lactate on different saccharides. cis-9, trans-11-Conjugated linoleic acid was also detected in the culture medium. Bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances of Mz5T were active against some strains of rumen bacteria and against selected Salmonella and E. coli isolates from poultry meat. The strain Mz5T retained viability and xylanolytic activity also under not fully anaerobic conditions; its cells attached to the Caco-2 cells so that its successful association with gut epithelial cells may be expected. These in vitro results confirmed several probiotic traits of the isolate Mz5T and justified further in vivo experiments to test its ability to improve animal health and performance.

The membrane-bound alpha-glucuronidase from Pseudomonas cellulosa hydrolyzes 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronoxylooligosaccharides but not 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronoxylan

The microbial degradation of xylan is a key biological process. Hardwood 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronoxylans are extensively decorated with 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid, which is cleaved from the polysaccharides by alpha-glucuronidases. In this report we describe the primary structures of the alpha-glucuronidase from Cellvibrio mixtus (C. mixtus GlcA67A) and the alpha-glucuronidase from Pseudomonas cellulosa (P. cellulosa GlcA67A) and characterize P. cellulosa GlcA67A. The primary structures of C. mixtus GlcA67A and P. cellulosa GlcA67A, which are 76% identical, exhibit similarities with alpha-glucuronidases in glycoside hydrolase family 67. The membrane-associated pseudomonad alpha-glucuronidase released 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid from 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronoxylooligosaccharides but not from 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronoxylan. We propose that the role of the glucuronidase, in combination with cell-associated xylanases, is to hydrolyze decorated xylooligosaccharides, generated by extracellular hemicellulases, to xylose and 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid, enabling the pseudomonad to preferentially utilize the sugars derived from these polymers.