Functional comparison of versatile carbohydrate esterases from families CE1, CE6 and CE16 on acetyl-4-O-methylglucuronoxylan and acetyl-galactoglucomannan.

BACKGROUND: The backbone structure of many hemicelluloses is acetylated, which presents a challenge when the objective is to convert corresponding polysaccharides to fermentable sugars or else recover hemicelluloses for biomaterial applications. Carbohydrate esterases (CE) can be harnessed to overcome these challenges. METHODS: Enzymes from different CE families, AnAcXE (CE1), OsAcXE (CE6), and MtAcE (CE16) were compared based on action and position preference towards acetyl-4-O-methylglucuronoxylan (MGX) and acetyl-galactoglucomannan (GGM). To determine corresponding positional preferences, the relative rate of acetyl group released by each enzyme was analyzed by real time 1H NMR. RESULTS: AnAcXE (CE1) showed lowest specific activity towards MGX, where OsAcXE (CE6) and MtAcE were approximately four times more active than AnAcXE (CE1). MtAcE (CE16) was further distinguished by demonstrating 100 times higher activity on GGM compared to AnAcXE (CE1) and OsAcXE (CE6), and five times higher activity on GGM than MGX. Following 24h incubation, all enzymes removed between 78 and 93% of total acetyl content from MGX and GGM, where MtAcE performed best on both substrates. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Considering action on MGX, all esterases showed preference for doubly substituted xylopyranosyl residues (2,3-O-acetyl-Xylp). Considering action on GGM, OsAcXE (CE6) preferentially targeted 2-O-acetyl-mannopyranosyl residues (2-O-acetyl-Manp) whereas AnAcXE (CE1) demonstrated highest activity towards 3-O-acetyl-Manp positions; regiopreference of MtAcE (CE16) on GGM was less clear. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The current comparative analysis identifies options to control the position of acetyl group release at initial stages of reaction, and enzyme combinations likely to accelerate deacetylation of major hemicellulose sources.

Enzymatically Debranched Xylans in Graft Copolymerization.

Wheat arabinoxylan was treated with two α-arabinofuranosidases exhibiting different mode of action to create three different polymeric substrates. These three substrate preparations were characterized by xylopyranose backbone sugars that are (1) singly substituted by arabinose at C2 or C3, (2) doubly substituted by arabinose at C2 and C3, and (3) largely unsubstituted. All xylan preparations were grafted with glycidyl methacrylate using cerium ammonium nitrate and then evaluated in terms of graft yield and adsorption to cellulose surfaces. The highest graft yield was observed for the xylan preparation characterized by a largely unsubstituted xylopyranose backbone. Furthermore, QCM-D analyses revealed that grafted xylans exhibited a two-stage desorption pattern, which was not seen with the ungrafted xylans and was consistent with increased water sorption. Accordingly, this study demonstrates the potential of arabinofuranosidases to increase the yield and influence the viscoelastic properties of grafted xylans used as biobased cellulose coatings.

Colorimetric Detection of Acetyl Xylan Esterase Activities.

Colorimetric detection of reaction products is typically preferred for initial surveys of acetyl xylan esterase (AcXE) activity. This chapter will describe common colorimetric methods, and variations thereof, for measuring AcXE activities on commercial, synthesized, and natural substrates. Whereas assays using pNP-acetate, α-naphthyl acetate, and 4-methylumbelliferyl acetate (4MUA) are emphasized, common methods used to measure AcXE activity towards carbohydrate analogs (e.g., acetylated p-nitrophenyl ß-D-xylopyranosides) and various acetylated xylans are also described. Strengths and limitations of the colorimetric assays are highlighted.

Enhancement of acetyl xylan esterase activity on cellulose acetate through fusion to a family 3 cellulose binding module.

The current study investigates the potential to increase the activity of a family 1 carbohydrate esterase on cellulose acetate through fusion to a family 3 carbohydrate binding module (CBM). Specifically, CtCBM3 from Clostridium thermocellum was fused to the carboxyl terminus of the acetyl xylan esterase (AnAXE) from Aspergillus nidulans, and active forms of both AnAXE and AnAXE-CtCBM3 were produced in Pichia pastoris. CtCBM3 fusion had negligible impact on the thermostability or regioselectivity of AnAXE; activities towards acetylated corncob xylan, 4-methylumbelliferyl acetate, p-nitrophenyl acetate, and cellobiose octaacetate were also unchanged. By contrast, the activity of AnAXE-CtCBM3 on cellulose acetate increased by two to four times over 24 h, with greater differences observed at earlier time points. Binding studies using microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) and a commercial source of cellulose acetate confirmed functional production of the CtCBM3 domain; affinity gel electrophoresis using acetylated xylan also verified the selectivity of CtCBM3 binding to cellulose. Notably, gains in enzyme activity on cellulose acetate appeared to exceed gains in substrate binding, suggesting that fusion to CtCBM3 increases functional associations between the enzyme and insoluble, high molecular weight cellulosic substrates.

Elucidation of the molecular basis for arabinoxylan-debranching activity of a thermostable family GH62 α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus.

Xylan-debranching enzymes facilitate the complete hydrolysis of xylan and can be used to alter xylan chemistry. Here, the family GH62 α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus (SthAbf62A) was shown to have a half-life of 60 min at 60°C and the ability to cleave α-1,3 l-arabinofuranose (l-Araf) from singly substituted xylopyranosyl (Xylp) backbone residues in wheat arabinoxylan; low levels of activity on arabinan as well as 4-nitrophenyl α-l-arabinofuranoside were also detected. After selective removal of α-1,3 l-Araf substituents from disubstituted Xylp residues present in wheat arabinoxylan, SthAbf62A could also cleave the remaining α-1,2 l-Araf substituents, confirming the ability of SthAbf62A to remove α-l-Araf residues that are (1→2) and (1→3) linked to monosubstituted ß-d-Xylp sugars. Three-dimensional structures of SthAbf62A and its complex with xylotetraose and l-arabinose confirmed a five-bladed ß-propeller fold and revealed a molecular Velcro in blade V between the ß1 and ß21 strands, a disulfide bond between Cys27 and Cys297, and a calcium ion coordinated in the central channel of the fold. The enzyme-arabinose complex structure further revealed a narrow and seemingly rigid l-arabinose binding pocket situated at the center of one side of the ß propeller, which stabilized the arabinofuranosyl substituent through several hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions. The predicted catalytic amino acids were oriented toward this binding pocket, and the catalytic essentiality of Asp53 and Glu213 was confirmed by site-specific mutagenesis. Complex structures with xylotetraose revealed a shallow cleft for xylan backbone binding that is open at both ends and comprises multiple binding subsites above and flanking the l-arabinose binding pocket.