title: A modular xylanase containing a novel non-catalytic xylan-specific binding domain.
abstract: Xylanase D (XYLD) from Cellulomonas fimi contains a C-terminal cellulose-binding domain (CBD) and an internal domain that exhibits 65% sequence identity with the C-terminal CBD. Full-length XYLD binds to both cellulose and xylan. Deletion of the C-terminal CBD from XYLD abolishes the capacity of the enzyme to bind to cellulose, although the truncated xylanase retains its xylan-binding properties. A derivative of XYLD lacking both the C-terminal CBD and the internal CBD homologue did not bind to either cellulose or xylan. A fusion protein consisting of the XYLD internal CBD homologue linked to the C-terminus of glutathione S-transferase (GST) bound to xylan, but not to cellulose, while GST bound to neither of the polysaccharides. The Km and specific activity of full-length XYLD and truncated derivatives of the enzyme lacking the C-terminal CBD (XYLDcbd), and both the CBD and the internal CBD homologue (XYLDcd), were determined with soluble and insoluble xylan as the substrates. The data showed that the specific activities of the three enzymes were similar for both substrates, as were the Km values for soluble substrate. However, the Km values of XYLD and XYLDcbd for insoluble xylan were significantly lower than the Km of XYLDcd. Overall, these data indicate that the internal CBD homologue in XYLD constitutes a discrete xylan-binding domain which influences the affinity of the enzyme for insoluble xylan but does not directly affect the catalytic activity of the xylanase. The rationale for the evolution of this domain is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Nutritional Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Hazlewood
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Millward-Sadler
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Laurie
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002384:Catalysis; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D043364:Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases; D006093:Gram-Positive Asporogenous Rods / Q000201:enzymology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014990:Xylans / Q000378:metabolism*; D014995:Xylosidases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014990:Xylans; D002482:Cellulose; D014995:Xylosidases; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D043364:Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases