Abstract
Xylan exists in many plants in an acetylated form, a circumstance largely neglected in studies of its breakdown by microbial enzymes. The present investigation demonstrates that fungal esterase and xylanase activities act cooperatively in hydrolyzing acetyl xylan. In the absence of esterase, xylanases break only a limited number of glycosidic bonds. Both the extent and rate of breakdown increase when esterase is present. The two activities also act synergistically to liberate acetyl residues. The prominent effect of esterase action on the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds suggests that its role will require consideration in processes where acetyl xylan is a substrate.
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Biely, P., MacKenzie, C., Puls, J. et al. Cooperativity of Esterases and Xylanases in the Enzymatic Degradation of Acetyl Xylan. Nat Biotechnol 4, 731–733 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0886-731
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0886-731
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