Sensitivity-enhanced solid-state NMR detection of expansin's target in plant cell walls

Structure determination of protein binding to noncrystalline macromolecular assemblies such as plant cell walls (CWs) poses a significant structural biology challenge. CWs are loosened during growth by expansin proteins, which weaken the noncovalent network formed by cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectins, but the CW target of expansins has remained elusive because of the minute amount of the protein required for activity and the complex nature of the CW. Using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, combined with sensitivity-enhancing dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) and differential isotopic labeling of expansin and polysaccharides, we have now determined the functional binding target of expansin in the Arabidopsis thaliana CW. By transferring the electron polarization of a biradical dopant to the nuclei, DNP allowed selective detection of (13)C spin diffusion from trace concentrations of (13)C, (15)N-labeled expansin in the CW to nearby polysaccharides. From the spin diffusion data of wild-type and mutant expansins, we conclude that to loosen the CW, expansin binds highly specific cellulose domains enriched in xyloglucan, whereas more abundant binding to pectins is unrelated to activity. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate short (13)C-(13)C distances of 4-6 Å between a hydrophobic surface of the cellulose microfibril and an aromatic motif on the expansin surface, consistent with the observed NMR signals. DNP-enhanced 2D (13)C correlation spectra further reveal that the expansin-bound cellulose has altered conformation and is enriched in xyloglucan, thus providing unique insight into the mechanism of CW loosening. DNP-enhanced NMR provides a powerful, generalizable approach for investigating protein binding to complex macromolecular targets.

From bacteria to human: a journey into the world of chitinases

Chitinases, the enzymes responsible for the biological degradation of chitin, are found in a wide range of organisms from bacteria to higher plants and animals. They participate in numerous physiological processes such as nutrition, parasitism, morphogenesis and immunity. Many organisms, in addition to chitinases, produce inactive chitinase-like lectins that despite lacking enzymatic activity are involved in several regulatory functions. Most known chitinases belong to families 18 and 19 of glycosyl hydrolases, however a few chitinases that belong to families 23 and 48 have also been identified in recent years. In this review, different aspects of chitinases and chi-lectins from bacteria, fungi, insects, plants and mammals are discussed.

Recent structural studies of carbohydrate-binding modules

Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are found in many carbohydrate-active enzymes. CBMs bind to a range of polysaccharides, their primary function being to increase the catalytic efficiency of the carbohydrate-active enzymes against soluble and/or insoluble substrates. CBMs bind to their target ligands with high specificities and affinities. Thus, CBM systems are excellent models to study the mechanism of protein-carbohydrate interaction. To date, CBMs have been classified into 45 different families and many structural and functional studies have been reported. At present, three-dimensional structures of CBMs from 31 different families have been determined. These structures demonstrate that the fold most commonly found in CBMs is the beta-sandwich. In the past few years, about 10 new structures from different families have been reported. These enable detailed classification of CBM structures. This article reviews recent structural and functional studies of CBMs and discusses the sub-classification of beta-sandwich CBMs.

The carbohydrate-binding module and linker of a modular lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase promote localized cellulose oxidation

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are copper-dependent enzymes that catalyze the oxidative cleavage of polysaccharides such as cellulose and chitin, a feature that makes them key tools in industrial biomass conversion processes. The catalytic domains of a considerable fraction of LPMOs and other carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) are tethered to carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) by flexible linkers. These linkers preclude X-ray crystallographic studies, and the functional implications of these modular assemblies remain partly unknown. Here, we used NMR spectroscopy to characterize structural and dynamic features of full-length modular ScLPMO10C from Streptomyces coelicolor We observed that the linker is disordered and extended, creating distance between the CBM and the catalytic domain and allowing these domains to move independently of each other. Functional studies with cellulose nanofibrils revealed that most of the substrate-binding affinity of full-length ScLPMO10C resides in the CBM. Comparison of the catalytic performance of full-length ScLPMO10C and its isolated catalytic domain revealed that the CBM is beneficial for LPMO activity at lower substrate concentrations and promotes localized and repeated oxidation of the substrate. Taken together, these results provide a mechanistic basis for understanding the interplay between catalytic domains linked to CBMs in LPMOs and CAZymes in general.

Multidomain Carbohydrate-binding Proteins Involved in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Starch Metabolism

Human colonic bacteria are necessary for the digestion of many dietary polysaccharides. The intestinal symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron uses five outer membrane proteins to bind and degrade starch. Here, we report the x-ray crystallographic structures of SusE and SusF, two outer membrane proteins composed of tandem starch specific carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) with no enzymatic activity. Examination of the two CBMs in SusE and three CBMs in SusF reveals subtle differences in the way each binds starch and is reflected in their K(d) values for both high molecular weight starch and small maltooligosaccharides. Thus, each site seems to have a unique starch preference that may enable these proteins to interact with different regions of starch or its breakdown products. Proteins similar to SusE and SusF are encoded in many other polysaccharide utilization loci that are possessed by human gut bacteria in the phylum Bacteroidetes. Thus, these proteins are likely to play an important role in carbohydrate metabolism in these abundant symbiotic species. Understanding structural changes that diversify and adapt related proteins in the human gut microbial community will be critical to understanding the detailed mechanistic roles that they perform in the complex digestive ecosystem.

Carbohydrate Binding Modules: Diversity of Domain Architecture in Amylases and Cellulases From Filamentous Microorganisms

Enzymatic degradation of abundant renewable polysaccharides such as cellulose and starch is a field that has the attention of both the industrial and scientific community. Most of the polysaccharide degrading enzymes are classified into several glycoside hydrolase families. They are often organized in a modular manner which includes a catalytic domain connected to one or more carbohydrate-binding modules. The carbohydrate-binding modules (CBM) have been shown to increase the proximity of the enzyme to its substrate, especially for insoluble substrates. Therefore, these modules are considered to enhance enzymatic hydrolysis. These properties have played an important role in many biotechnological applications with the aim to improve the efficiency of polysaccharide degradation. The domain organization of glycoside hydrolases (GHs) equipped with one or more CBM does vary within organisms. This review comprehensively highlights the presence of CBM as ancillary modules and explores the diversity of GHs carrying one or more of these modules that actively act either on cellulose or starch. Special emphasis is given to the cellulase and amylase distribution within the filamentous microorganisms from the genera of Streptomyces and Aspergillus that are well known to have a great capacity for secreting a wide range of these polysaccharide degrading enzyme. The potential of the CBM and other ancillary domains for the design of improved polysaccharide decomposing enzymes is discussed.

Kinetic and structural optimization to catalysis at low temperatures in a psychrophilic cellulase from the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis

The cold-adapted cellulase CelG has been purified from the culture supernatant of the Antarctic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis and the gene coding for this enzyme has been cloned, sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli. This cellulase is composed of three structurally and functionally distinct regions: an N-terminal catalytic domain belonging to glycosidase family 5 and a C-terminal cellulose-binding domain belonging to carbohydrate-binding module family 5. The linker of 107 residues connecting both domains is one of the longest found in cellulases, and optimizes substrate accessibility to the catalytic domain by drastically increasing the surface of cellulose available to a bound enzyme molecule. The psychrophilic enzyme is closely related to the cellulase Cel5 from Erwinia chrysanthemi. Both kcat and kcat/K(m) values at 4 degrees C for the psychrophilic cellulase are similar to the values for Cel5 at 30-35 degrees C, suggesting temperature adaptation of the kinetic parameters. The thermodynamic parameters of activation of CelG suggest a heat-labile, relatively disordered active site with low substrate affinity, in agreement with the experimental data. The structure of CelG has been constructed by homology modelling with a molecule of cellotetraose docked into the active site. No structural alteration related to cold-activity can be found in the catalytic cleft, whereas several structural factors in the overall structure can explain the weak thermal stability, suggesting that the loss of stability provides the required active-site mobility at low temperatures.

Reducing non-productive adsorption of cellulase and enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocelluloses by noncovalent modification of lignin with lignosulfonate

Four fractions of one commercial sodium lignosulfonate (SXP) with different molecular weight (MW) and anionic polymers were studied to reduce non-productive adsorption of cellulase on bound lignin in a lignocellulosic substrate. SXP with higher MW had stronger blocking effect on non-productive adsorption of a commercial Trichoderma reesi cellulase cocktail (CTec2) on lignin measured by quartz crystal microgravimetry with dissipation monitoring. Linear anionic aromatic polymers have strong blocking effect, but they would also reduce CTec2 adsorption on cellulose to decrease the enzymatic activity. The copolymer of lignin and polyethylene glycol (AL-PEG1000) has strong enhancement in enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocelluloses, because it not only improves the cellulase activity to cellulose, but also blocks the non-productive cellulase adsorption on lignin. Apart from improving the cellulase activity to cellulose, the enhancements of enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose by adding AL-PEG1000 and SXPs are the result of the decreased cellulase non-productive adsorption on lignin.

The Pyrroloquinoline-Quinone-Dependent Pyranose Dehydrogenase from Coprinopsis cinerea Drives Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenase Action

Fungi secrete a set of glycoside hydrolases and oxidoreductases, including lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs), for the degradation of plant polysaccharides. LPMOs catalyze the oxidative cleavage of glycosidic bonds after activation by an external electron donor. So far, only flavin-dependent oxidoreductases (from the auxiliary activity [AA] family AA3) have been shown to activate LPMOs. Here, we present LPMO activation by a pyrroloquinoline-quinone (PQQ)-dependent pyranose dehydrogenase (PDH) from Coprinopsis cinerea, CcPDH, the founding member of the recently discovered auxiliary activity family AA12. CcPDH contains a C-terminal family 1 carbohydrate binding module (CBM1), an N-terminal family AA8 cytochrome domain, and a central AA12 dehydrogenase domain. We have studied the ability of full-length CcPDH and its truncated variants to drive catalysis by two Neurospora crassa LPMOs. The results show that CcPDH indeed can activate the C-1-oxidizing N. crassa LPMO 9F (NcLPMO9F) and the C-4-oxidizing Neurospora crassa LPMO 9C (NcLPMO9C), that this activation depends on the cytochrome domain, and that the dehydrogenase and the LPMO reactions are strongly coupled. The two tested CcPDH-LPMO systems showed quite different efficiencies, and this difference disappeared upon the addition of free PQQ acting as a diphenol/quinone redox mediator, showing that LPMOs differ when it comes to their direct interactions with the cytochrome domain. Surprisingly, removal of the CBM domain from CcPDH had a considerable negative impact on the efficiency of the CcPDH-LPMO systems, suggesting that electron transfer in the vicinity of the substrate is beneficial. CcPDH does not oxidize cello-oligosaccharides, which makes this enzyme a useful tool for studying cellulose-oxidizing LPMOs.IMPORTANCE Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are currently receiving increasing attention because of their importance in degrading recalcitrant polysaccharides and their potential roles in biological processes, such as bacterial virulence. LPMO action requires an external electron donor, and fungi growing on biomass secrete various so-called glucose-methanol-choline (GMC) oxidoreductases, including cellobiose dehydrogenase, which can donate electrons to LPMOs. This paper describes how an enzyme not belonging to the GMC oxidoreductase family, CcPDH, can activate LPMOs, and it provides new insights into the activation process by (i) describing the roles of individual CcPDH domains (a dehydrogenase, a cytochrome, and a carbohydrate-binding domain), (ii) showing that the PDH and LPMO enzyme reactions are strongly coupled, (iii) demonstrating that LPMOs differ in terms of their efficiencies of activation by the same activator, and (iv) providing indications that electron transferring close to the substrate surface is beneficial for the overall efficiency of the CcPDH-LPMO system.

Computational investigation of glycosylation effects on a family 1 carbohydrate-binding module

Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are ubiquitous components of glycoside hydrolases, which degrade polysaccharides in nature. CBMs target specific polysaccharides, and CBM binding affinity to cellulose is known to be proportional to cellulase activity, such that increasing binding affinity is an important component of performance improvement. To ascertain the impact of protein and glycan engineering on CBM binding, we use molecular simulation to quantify cellulose binding of a natively glycosylated Family 1 CBM. To validate our approach, we first examine aromatic-carbohydrate interactions on binding, and our predictions are consistent with previous experiments, showing that a tyrosine to tryptophan mutation yields a 2-fold improvement in binding affinity. We then demonstrate that enhanced binding of 3-6-fold over a nonglycosylated CBM is achieved by the addition of a single, native mannose or a mannose dimer, respectively, which has not been considered previously. Furthermore, we show that the addition of a single, artificial glycan on the anterior of the CBM, with the native, posterior glycans also present, can have a dramatic impact on binding affinity in our model, increasing it up to 140-fold relative to the nonglycosylated CBM. These results suggest new directions in protein engineering, in that modifying glycosylation patterns via heterologous expression, manipulation of culture conditions, or introduction of artificial glycosylation sites, can alter CBM binding affinity to carbohydrates and may thus be a general strategy to enhance cellulase performance. Our results also suggest that CBM binding studies should consider the effects of glycosylation on binding and function.

Xyloglucan in the primary cell wall: assessment by FESEM, selective enzyme digestions and nanogold affinity tags

Xyloglucan has been hypothesized to bind extensively to cellulose microfibril surfaces and to tether microfibrils into a load-bearing network, thereby playing a central role in wall mechanics and growth, but this view is challenged by newer results. Here we combined high-resolution imaging by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with nanogold affinity tags and selective endoglucanase treatments to assess the spatial location and conformation of xyloglucan in onion cell walls. FESEM imaging of xyloglucanase-digested cell walls revealed an altered microfibril organization but did not yield clear evidence of xyloglucan conformations. Backscattered electron detection provided excellent detection of nanogold affinity tags in the context of wall fibrillar organization. Labelling with xyloglucan-specific CBM76 conjugated with nanogold showed that xyloglucans were associated with fibril surfaces in both extended and coiled conformations, but tethered configurations were not observed. Labelling with nanogold-conjugated CBM3, which binds the hydrophobic surface of crystalline cellulose, was infrequent until the wall was predigested with xyloglucanase, whereupon microfibril labelling was extensive. When tamarind xyloglucan was allowed to bind to xyloglucan-depleted onion walls, CBM76 labelling gave positive evidence for xyloglucans in both extended and coiled conformations, yet xyloglucan chains were not directly visible by FESEM. These results indicate that an appreciable, but still small, surface of cellulose microfibrils in the onion wall is tightly bound with extended xyloglucan chains and that some of the xyloglucan has a coiled conformation.

Enzymatic Adaptation of Bifidobacterium bifidum to Host Glycans, Viewed from Glycoside Hydrolyases and Carbohydrate-Binding Modules

Certain species of the genus Bifidobacterium represent human symbionts. Many studies have shown that the establishment of symbiosis with such bifidobacterial species confers various beneficial effects on human health. Among the more than ten (sub)species of human gut-associated Bifidobacterium that have significantly varied genetic characteristics at the species level, Bifidobacterium bifidum is unique in that it is found in the intestines of a wide age group, ranging from infants to adults. This species is likely to have adapted to efficiently degrade host-derived carbohydrate chains, such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and mucin O-glycans, which enabled the longitudinal colonization of intestines. The ability of this species to assimilate various host glycans can be attributed to the possession of an adequate set of extracellular glycoside hydrolases (GHs). Importantly, the polypeptides of those glycosidases frequently contain carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) with deduced affinities to the target glycans, which is also a distinct characteristic of this species among members of human gut-associated bifidobacteria. This review firstly describes the prevalence and distribution of B. bifidum in the human gut and then explains the enzymatic machinery that B. bifidum has developed for host glycan degradation by referring to the functions of GHs and CBMs. Finally, we show the data of co-culture experiments using host-derived glycans as carbon sources, which underpin the interesting altruistic behavior of this species as a cross-feeder.

Report on the Current Inventory of the Toolbox for Plant Cell Wall Analysis: Proteinaceous and Small Molecular Probes

Plant cell walls are highly complex structures composed of diverse classes of polysaccharides, proteoglycans, and polyphenolics, which have numerous roles throughout the life of a plant. Significant research efforts aim to understand the biology of this cellular organelle and to facilitate cell-wall-based industrial applications. To accomplish this, researchers need to be provided with a variety of sensitive and specific detection methods for separate cell wall components, and their various molecular characteristics in vitro as well as in situ. Cell wall component-directed molecular detection probes (in short: cell wall probes, CWPs) are an essential asset to the plant glycobiology toolbox. To date, a relatively large set of CWPs has been produced-mainly consisting of monoclonal antibodies, carbohydrate-binding modules, synthetic antibodies produced by phage display, and small molecular probes. In this review, we summarize the state-of-the-art knowledge about these CWPs; their classification and their advantages and disadvantages in different applications. In particular, we elaborate on the recent advances in non-conventional approaches to the generation of novel CWPs, and identify the remaining gaps in terms of target recognition. This report also highlights the addition of new "compartments" to the probing toolbox, which is filled with novel chemical biology tools, such as metabolic labeling reagents and oligosaccharide conjugates. In the end, we also forecast future developments in this dynamic field.

N-acetylglucosamine recognition by a family 32 carbohydrate-binding module from Clostridium perfringens NagH

Many carbohydrate-active enzymes have complex architectures comprising multiple modules that may be involved in catalysis, carbohydrate binding, or protein-protein interactions. Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are a common ancillary module whose function is to promote the adherence of the complete enzyme to carbohydrate substrates. CBM family 32 has been proposed to be one of the most diverse CBM families classified to date, yet all of the structurally characterized CBM32s thus far recognize galactose-based ligands. Here, we report a unique binding specificity and mode of ligand binding for a family 32 CBM. NagHCBM32-2 is one of four CBM32 modules in NagH, a family 84 glycoside hydrolase secreted by Clostridium perfringens. NagHCBM32-2 has the beta-sandwich scaffold common to members of the family; however, its specificity for N-acetylglucosamine is unusual among CBMs. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the module at resolutions from 1.45 to 2.0 A and in complex with disaccharides reveals that its mode of sugar recognition is quite different from that observed for galactose-specific CBM32s. This study continues to unravel the diversity of CBMs found in family 32 and how these CBMs might impart the carbohydrate-binding specificity to the extracellular glycoside hydrolases in C. perfringens.

Streptococcus pneumoniae NanC: STRUCTURAL INSIGHTS INTO THE SPECIFICITY AND MECHANISM OF A SIALIDASE THAT PRODUCES A SIALIDASE INHIBITOR

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human pathogen that causes a range of disease states. Sialidases are important bacterial virulence factors. There are three pneumococcal sialidases: NanA, NanB, and NanC. NanC is an unusual sialidase in that its primary reaction product is 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac2en, also known as DANA), a nonspecific hydrolytic sialidase inhibitor. The production of Neu5Ac2en from α2–3-linked sialosides by the catalytic domain is confirmed within a crystal structure. A covalent complex with 3-fluoro-β-N-acetylneuraminic acid is also presented, suggesting a common mechanism with other sialidases up to the final step of product formation. A conformation change in an active site hydrophobic loop on ligand binding constricts the entrance to the active site. In addition, the distance between the catalytic acid/base (Asp-315) and the ligand anomeric carbon is unusually short. These features facilitate a novel sialidase reaction in which the final step of product formation is direct abstraction of the C3 proton by the active site aspartic acid, forming Neu5Ac2en. NanC also possesses a carbohydrate-binding module, which is shown to bind α2–3- and α2–6-linked sialosides, as well as N-acetylneuraminic acid, which is captured in the crystal structure following hydration of Neu5Ac2en by NanC. Overall, the pneumococcal sialidases show remarkable mechanistic diversity while maintaining a common structural scaffold.

Recognition of the helical structure of beta-1,4-galactan by a new family of carbohydrate-binding modules

The microbial enzymes that depolymerize plant cell wall polysaccharides, ultimately promoting energy liberation and carbon recycling, are typically complex in their modularity and often contain carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). Here, through analysis of an unknown module from a Thermotoga maritima endo-β-1,4-galactanase, we identify a new family of CBMs that are most frequently found appended to proteins with β-1,4-galactanase activity. Polysaccharide microarray screening, immunofluorescence microscopy, and biochemical analysis of the isolated module demonstrate the specificity of the module, here called TmCBM61, for β-1,4-linked galactose-containing ligands, making it the founding member of family CBM61. The ultra-high resolution X-ray crystal structures of TmCBM61 (0.95 and 1.4 Å resolution) in complex with β-1,4-galactotriose reveal the molecular basis of the specificity of the CBM for β-1,4-galactan. Analysis of these structures provides insight into the recognition of an unexpected helical galactan conformation through a mode of binding that resembles the recognition of starch.

New insights into enzymatic hydrolysis of heterogeneous cellulose by using carbohydrate-binding module 3 containing GFP and carbohydrate-binding module 17 containing CFP

BACKGROUND

The in-depth understanding of the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose with heterogeneous morphology (that is, crystalline versus amorphous) may help develop better cellulase cocktail mixtures and biomass pretreatment, wherein cost-effective release of soluble sugars from solid cellulosic materials remains the largest obstacle to the economic viability of second generation biorefineries.

RESULTS

In addition to the previously developed non-hydrolytic fusion protein, GC3, containing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) and a family 3 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM3) that can bind both surfaces of amorphous and crystalline celluloses, we developed a new protein probe, CC17, which contained a mono-cherry fluorescent protein (CFP) and a family 17 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM17) that can bind only amorphous cellulose surfaces. Via these two probes, the surface accessibilities of amorphous and crystalline celluloses were determined quantitatively. Our results for the enzymatic hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) suggested that: 1) easily accessible amorphous cellulose on the surface of Avicel is preferentially hydrolyzed at the very early period of hydrolysis (that is, several minutes with a cellulose conversion of 2.8%); 2) further hydrolysis of Avicel is a typical layer-by-layer mechanism, that is, amorphous and crystalline cellulose regions were hydrolyzed simultaneously; and 3) most amorphous cellulose within the interior of the Avicel particles cannot be accessed by cellulase.

CONCLUSIONS

The crystallinity index (CrI), reflecting a mass-average (three-dimensional) cellulose characteristic, did not represent the key substrate surface (two-dimensional) characteristic related to enzymatic hydrolysis.

Structure, dynamics, and specificity of endoglucanase D from Clostridium cellulovorans

The enzymatic degradation of cellulose is a critical step in the biological conversion of plant biomass into an abundant renewable energy source. An understanding of the structural and dynamic features that cellulases utilize to bind a single strand of crystalline cellulose and hydrolyze the β-1,4-glycosidic bonds of cellulose to produce fermentable sugars would greatly facilitate the engineering of improved cellulases for the large-scale conversion of plant biomass. Endoglucanase D (EngD) from Clostridium cellulovorans is a modular enzyme comprising an N-terminal catalytic domain and a C-terminal carbohydrate-binding module, which is attached via a flexible linker. Here, we present the 2.1-Å-resolution crystal structures of full-length EngD with and without cellotriose bound, solution small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies of the full-length enzyme, the characterization of the active cleft glucose binding subsites, and substrate specificity of EngD on soluble and insoluble polymeric carbohydrates. SAXS data support a model in which the linker is flexible, allowing EngD to adopt an extended conformation in solution. The cellotriose-bound EngD structure revealed an extended active-site cleft that contains seven glucose-binding subsites, but unlike the majority of structurally determined endocellulases, the active-site cleft of EngD is partially enclosed by Trp162 and Tyr232. EngD variants, which lack Trp162, showed a significant reduction in activity and an alteration in the distribution of cellohexaose degradation products, suggesting that Trp162 plays a direct role in substrate binding.

Glycan-metabolizing enzymes in microbe-host interactions: the Streptococcus pneumoniae paradigm

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a frequent colonizer of the upper airways; however, it is also an accomplished pathogen capable of causing life-threatening diseases. To colonize and cause invasive disease, this bacterium relies on a complex array of factors to mediate the host-bacterium interaction. The respiratory tract is rich in functionally important glycoconjugates that display a vast range of glycans, and, thus, a key component of the pneumococcus-host interaction involves an arsenal of bacterial carbohydrate-active enzymes to depolymerize these glycans and carbohydrate transporters to import the products. Through the destruction of host glycans, the glycan-specific metabolic machinery deployed by S. pneumoniae plays a variety of roles in the host-pathogen interaction. Here, we review the processing and metabolism of the major host-derived glycans, including N- and O-linked glycans, Lewis and blood group antigens, proteoglycans, and glycogen, as well as some dietary glycans. We discuss the role of these metabolic pathways in the S. pneumoniae-host interaction, speculate on the potential of key enzymes within these pathways as therapeutic targets, and relate S. pneumoniae as a model system to glycan processing in other microbial pathogens.

Functional Characterization of Carbohydrate-Binding Modules in a New Alginate Lyase, TsAly7B, from Thalassomonas sp. LD5

Alginate lyases degrade alginate into oligosaccharides, of which the biological activities have vital roles in various fields. Some alginate lyases contain one or more carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs), which assist the function of the catalytic modules. However, the precise function of CBMs in alginate lyases has yet to be fully elucidated. We have identified a new multi-domain alginate lyase, TsAly7B, in the marine bacterium Thalassomonas sp. LD5. This novel lyase contains an N-terminal CBM9, an internal CBM32, and a C-terminal polysaccharide lyase family 7 (PL7) catalytic module. To investigate the specific function of each of these CBMs, we expressed and characterized the full-length TsAly7B and three truncated mutants: TM1 (CBM32-PL7), TM2 (CBM9-PL7), and TM3 (PL7 catalytic module). CBM9 and CBM32 could enhance the degradation of alginate. Notably, the specific activity of TM2 was 7.6-fold higher than that of TM3. CBM32 enhanced the resistance of the catalytic module to high temperatures. In addition, a combination of CBM9 and CBM32 showed enhanced thermostability when incubated at 80 °C for 1 h. This is the first report that finds CBM9 can significantly improve the ability of enzyme degradation. Our findings provide new insight into the interrelationships of tandem CBMs and alginate lyases and other polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, which may inspire CBM fusion strategies.

Cellulose hydrolysis and binding with Trichoderma reesei Cel5A and Cel7A and their core domains in ionic liquid solutions

Ionic liquids (ILs) dissolve lignocellulosic biomass and have a high potential as pretreatment prior to total enzymatic hydrolysis. ILs are, however, known to inactivate cellulases. In this article, enzymatic hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and enzyme binding onto the cellulosic substrate were studied in the presence of cellulose-dissolving ILs. Two different ILs, 1,3-dimethylimidazolium dimethylphosphate ([DMIM]DMP) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]AcO), and two monocomponent cellulases, Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase Cel7A and endoglucanase Cel5A, were used in the study. The role and IL sensitivity of the carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) were studied by performing hydrolysis and binding experiments with both the intact cellulases, and their respective core domains (CDs). Based on hydrolysis yields and substrate binding experiments for the intact enzymes and their CDs in the presence of ILs, the function of the CBM appeared to be very IL sensitive. Binding data suggested that the CBM was more important for the substrate binding of endoglucanase Cel5A than for the binding of cellobiohydrolase Cel7A. The CD of Cel7A was able to bind well to cellulose even without a CBM, whereas Cel5A CD had very low binding affinity. Hydrolysis also occurred with Cel5A CD even if this protein had very low binding affinity in all the studied matrices. Binding and hydrolysis were less affected by the studied ILs for Cel7A than for Cel5A. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic study of IL effects on cellulase substrate binding.

Novel xylan-binding properties of an engineered family 4 carbohydrate-binding module

Molecular engineering of ligand-binding proteins is commonly used for identification of variants that display novel specificities. Using this approach to introduce novel specificities into CBMs (carbohydrate-binding modules) has not been extensively explored. Here, we report the engineering of a CBM, CBM4-2 from the Rhodothermus marinus xylanase Xyn10A, and the identification of the X-2 variant. As compared with the wild-type protein, this engineered module displays higher specificity for the polysaccharide xylan, and a lower preference for binding xylo-oligomers rather than binding the natural decorated polysaccharide. The mode of binding of X-2 differs from other xylan-specific CBMs in that it only has one aromatic residue in the binding site that can make hydrophobic interactions with the sugar rings of the ligand. The evolution of CBM4-2 has thus generated a xylan-binding module with different binding properties to those displayed by CBMs available in Nature.

Characterizing a Halo-Tolerant GH10 Xylanase from Roseithermus sacchariphilus Strain RA and Its CBM-Truncated Variant

A halo-thermophilic bacterium, Roseithermus sacchariphilus strain RA (previously known as Rhodothermaceae bacterium RA), was isolated from a hot spring in Langkawi, Malaysia. A complete genome analysis showed that the bacterium harbors 57 glycoside hydrolases (GHs), including a multi-domain xylanase (XynRA2). The full-length XynRA2 of 813 amino acids comprises a family 4_9 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM4_9), a family 10 glycoside hydrolase catalytic domain (GH10), and a C-terminal domain (CTD) for type IX secretion system (T9SS). This study aims to describe the biochemical properties of XynRA2 and the effects of CBM truncation on this xylanase. XynRA2 and its CBM-truncated variant (XynRA2ΔCBM) was expressed, purified, and characterized. The purified XynRA2 and XynRA2ΔCBM had an identical optimum temperature at 70 °C, but different optimum pHs of 8.5 and 6.0 respectively. Furthermore, XynRA2 retained 94% and 71% of activity at 4.0 M and 5.0 M NaCl respectively, whereas XynRA2ΔCBM showed a lower activity (79% and 54%). XynRA2 exhibited a turnover rate (k_cat) of 24.8 s⁻¹, but this was reduced by 40% for XynRA2ΔCBM. Both the xylanases hydrolyzed beechwood xylan predominantly into xylobiose, and oat-spelt xylan into a mixture of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOs). Collectively, this work suggested CBM4_9 of XynRA2 has a role in enzyme performance.

Distinct protein architectures mediate species-specific beta-glucan binding and metabolism in the human gut microbiota

Complex glycans that evade our digestive system are major nutrients that feed the human gut microbiota (HGM). The prevalence of Bacteroidetes in the HGM of populations worldwide is engendered by the evolution of polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs), which encode concerted protein systems to utilize the myriad complex glycans in our diets. Despite their crucial roles in glycan recognition and transport, cell-surface glycan-binding proteins (SGBPs) remained understudied cogs in the PUL machinery. Here, we report the structural and biochemical characterization of a suite of SGBP-A and SGBP-B structures from three syntenic β(1,3)-glucan utilization loci (1,3GULs) from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt), Bacteroides uniformis (Bu), and B. fluxus (Bf), which have varying specificities for distinct β-glucans. Ligand complexes provide definitive insight into β(1,3)-glucan selectivity in the HGM, including structural features enabling dual β(1,3)-glucan/mixed-linkage β(1,3)/β(1,4)-glucan-binding capability in some orthologs. The tertiary structural conservation of SusD-like SGBPs-A is juxtaposed with the diverse architectures and binding modes of the SGBPs-B. Specifically, the structures of the trimodular BtSGBP-B and BuSGBP-B revealed a tandem repeat of carbohydrate-binding module-like domains connected by long linkers. In contrast, BfSGBP-B comprises a bimodular architecture with a distinct β-barrel domain at the C terminus that bears a shallow binding canyon. The molecular insights obtained here contribute to our fundamental understanding of HGM function, which in turn may inform tailored microbial intervention therapies.

Carbohydrate-binding module tribes

At present, 69 families of carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) have been isolated by statistically significant differences in the amino acid sequences (primary structures) of their members, with most members of different families showing little if any homology. On the other hand, members of the same family have primary and tertiary (three-dimensional) structures that can be computationally aligned, suggesting that they are descended from common protein ancestors. Members of the large majority of CBM families are β-sandwiches. This raises the question of whether members of different families are descended from distant common ancestors, and therefore are members of the same tribe. We have attacked this problem by attempting to computationally superimpose tertiary structure representatives of each of the 53 CBM families that have members with known tertiary structures. When successful, we have aligned locations of secondary structure elements and determined root mean square deviations and percentages of similarity between adjacent amino acid residues in structures from similar families. Further criteria leading to tribal membership are amino acid chain lengths and bound ligands. These considerations have led us to assign 27 families to nine tribes. Eight of the tribes have members with β-sandwich structures, while the ninth is composed of structures with β-trefoils.