Most Complete Functional Map of an Entire Enzyme Family

Researchers develop a new process for annotating cellulose-degrading enzymes.

Researchers examined the dynamic motion of SacteLam55A (colored spheres), a glycoside enzyme, onto PcLam55A (gray surface). The image shows several residues (purple surface and spheres), proposed catalytic acid (yellow), sugar-binding subsites (indicated by 1-6), and the occupation of putative gentiobiose binding cavity.

The Science

Plants and other forms of biomass contain significant quantities of cellulose, a structural component of cell walls. Cellulose is extremely difficult to break down; however, microbial communities that work inside biomass-harvesting insects could help improve the enzymatic deconstruction of biomass materials for biofuel production. Scientists built the most complete functional mapping of an entire family of cellulose-degrading enzymes, glycoside hydrolase (GH) family, to date. The map identifies locales involved with binding, driving the reaction, and ensuring that only the right feedstocks are acted on.

The Impact

Members of the cellulose-degrading enzyme family, the GH55 enzyme family, break down cellulose and thus are of interest to researchers working on advancing large-scale biofuels production. The team’s new annotation approach could speed up the process of studying cellulose-degrading enzymes by allowing researchers to study entire families at once. Additionally, combining of disparate technologies and collaboration among a Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Research Center and two DOE user facilities will advance the understanding of cellulose structure and function to a depth beyond the capabilities of any one facility.

Summary

In this study, researchers at the DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center collaborated with the DOE Joint Genome Institute to characterize the structure and function of SacteLam55A, a GH55 protein. The gene SACTE_4363 encodes this protein and was recently isolated from the microbe SirexAA-E in the gut of the pinewood-boring wasp Sirex notilio. The gene was found when the microbe was grown on cellobiose, xylan, and pretreated switchgrass samples, suggesting it has cellulolytic properties. To determine the gene’s structure, the researchers relied on diffraction data collected at the DOE Advanced Photon Source user facility at Argonne National Laboratory to develop high-resolution crystal structures. Through assays and techniques such as gene synthesis and cell-free protein translation, the team also characterized the biochemistry and structure of the GH55 family. To the team’s knowledge, the study provides the most detailed map of an entire GH family to date.

Contact

Brian G. Fox
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Madison, Wisconsin
bgfox@biochem.wisc.edu

Funding

This work was supported in part by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (Grant DE-FC02-07ER64494) and Office of Basic Energy Sciences (Contract W-31-109-ENG-38), both of which are within the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science. Other funding was provided by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin’s Graduate School, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Michigan Technology Tri-Corridor (Grant 085P1000817).

Publications

C. M. Bianchetti, T. E. Takasuka, S. Deutsch, H. S. Udell, E. J. Yik, L. F. Bergeman, and B. G. Fox, “Active site and laminarin binding in glycoside hydrolase family 55.” Journal of Biological Chemistry 290(19), 11819–32 (2015). [DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M114.623579].

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