title: An expansin-like protein from Hahella chejuensis binds cellulose and enhances cellulase activity.
abstract: Molecular function of the expansin superfamily has been highlighted for cellulosic biomass conversion. In this report, we identified a new bacterial expansin subfamily by analysis of related bacterial sequences and biochemically examined a member of this new subfamily from Hahella chejuensis (HcEXLX2). Among the various complex polysaccharides tested, HcEXLX2 bound most efficiently to cellulose. The relative binding constant (K( r )) against Avicel was 2.1 L g(-1) at pH 6.0 and 4 degrees C. HcEXLX2 enhanced the activity of cellulase, producing about 4.6 times more hydrolysis product after a 36 h reaction relative to when only cellulase was used. The extension strength test on filter paper indicated that HcEXLX2 has a texture loosening effect on filter paper, which was 53% of that observed for 8 M urea treatment. These activities, compared with a cellulose binding domain from Clostridium thermocellum, implied that the synergistic effect of HcEXLX2 comes from not only binding to cellulose but also disrupting the hydrogen bonds in cellulose. Based on these results, we suggest that the new bacterial expansin subfamily functions by binding to cell wall polysaccharides and increasing the accessibility of cell wall degrading enzymes.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 136-713, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Saeyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyeok-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Kyoung Heon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In-Geol
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D020563:Gammaproteobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D002482:Cellulose; D002480:Cellulase