title: α-1,3-Glucanase: present situation and prospect of research.
abstract: α-1,3-Glucanases hydrolyze α-1,3-glucan which is an insoluble linear α-1,3-linked homopolymer of glucose and these enzymes are classified into two families of glycoside hydrolases on the basis of amino acid sequence similarity; type-71 α-1,3-glucanases found in fungi and type-87 enzymes in bacteria. α-1,3-Glucan (also called 'mutan') is a major component of dental plaque formed by oral Streptococci and has important physiological roles in various fungal species, including as a component of cell walls, an endogenous carbon source for sexual development, and a virulent factor. Considering these backgrounds, α-1,3-glucanases have been investigated from the perspectives of applications to dental care and development of cell-wall lytic enzymes. Compared with information regarding other glycoside hydrolases such as amylases, cellulases, chitinases, and β-glucanases, there is limited biochemical and structural information available regarding α-1,3-glucanase. Further research on α-1,3-glucanases on enzyme application to dental care and biological control of pathogenic fungi is expected. In this mini-review, we briefly describe how α-1,3-glucanases are categorized and characterized and present our study findings regarding α-1,3-glucanase from Bacillus circulans KA-304. Furthermore, we briefly discuss potential future applications of α-1,3-glucanases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Agro-industry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, 90112, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wasana
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Suyotha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Engineering, Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering, Yamagata University, Jonan, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigekazu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577, Japan. wakayama@sk.ritsumei.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakayama
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001407:Bacillus / Q000201:enzymology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D005658:Fungi / Q000201:enzymology; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D009154:Mutation; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C021780:exo-1,3-alpha-glucanase
keywords: Fungal cell wall; Mutan; Protoplast; α-1,3-Glucan; α-1,3-Glucan-binding domains; α-1,3-Glucanase