Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Family 6 carbohydrate binding modules in β-agarases display exquisite selectivity for the non-reducing termini of agarose chains

Lookup NU author(s): Joanna Henshaw, Dr David Bolam, Emeritus Professor Harry Gilbert

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Carbohydrate recognition is central to the biological and industrial exploitation of plant structural polysaccharides. These insoluble polymers are recalcitrant to microbial degradation, and enzymes that catalyze this process generally contain non-catalytic carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) that potentiate activity by increasing substrate binding. Agarose, a repeat of the disaccharide 3,6-anhydro-α-L-galactose-(1,3)-β-D-galactopyranose-(1, 4), is the dominant matrix polysaccharide in marine algae, yet the role of CBMs in the hydrolysis of this important polymer has not previously been explored. Here we show that family 6 CBMs, present in two different β-agarases, bind specifically to the non-reducing end of agarose chains, recognizing only the first repeat of the disaccharide. The crystal structure of one of these modules Aga16B-CBM6-2, in complex with neoagarohexaose, reveals the mechanism by which the protein displays exquisite specificity, targeting the equatorial O4 and the axial O3 of the anhydro-L-galactose. Targeting of the CBM6 to the non-reducing end of agarose chains may direct the appended catalytic modules to areas of the plant cell wall attacked by β-agarases where the matrix polysaccharide is likely to be more amenable to further enzymic hydrolysis. © 2006 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Henshaw J, Horne-Bitschy A, Van Bueren A, Money V, Bolam DN, Czjzek M, Ekborg N, Weiner R, Hutcheson S, Davies G, Boraston A, Gilbert HJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Biological Chemistry

Year: 2006

Volume: 281

Issue: 25

Pages: 17099-17107

ISSN (print): 0021-9258

ISSN (electronic): 1083-351X

Publisher: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M600702200

DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M600702200

PubMed id: 16601125


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
BB/C005074/1Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Share