Anna Rosengren

Structural and Biochemical Analyses of Glycoside Hydrolase Families 5 and 26 β-(1,4)-Mannanases from Podospora anserina Reveal Differences upon Manno-oligosaccharide Catalysis

Background: Fungal mannanases contribute to enzymatic degradation of lignocellulose. Results: New fungal mannanases reveal striking differences in substrate specificities. A rigid linker tightly connects the family 26 glycoside hydrolase to its binding module. Conclusion: Podospora anserina mannanases display differences in substrate binding modes, transglycosylation activity, and modular organization. Significance: Information on the structure-function relationships of fungal mannanases is essential to improve the comprehension of biomass deconstruction. The microbial deconstruction of the plant cell wall is a key biological process that is of increasing importance with the development of a sustainable biofuel industry. The glycoside hydrolase families GH5 (PaMan5A) and GH26 (PaMan26A) endo-β-1,4-mannanases from the coprophilic ascomycete Podospora anserina contribute to the enzymatic degradation of lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, P. anserina mannanases were further subjected to detailed comparative analysis of their substrate specificities, active site organization, and transglycosylation capacity. Although PaMan5A displays a classical mode of action, PaMan26A revealed an atypical hydrolysis pattern with the release of mannotetraose and mannose from mannopentaose resulting from a predominant binding mode involving the −4 subsite. The crystal structures of PaMan5A and PaMan26A were solved at 1.4 and 2.85 Å resolution, respectively. Analysis of the PaMan26A structure supported strong interaction with substrate at the −4 subsite mediated by two aromatic residues Trp-244 and Trp-245. The PaMan26A structure appended to its family 35 carbohydrate binding module revealed a short and proline-rich rigid linker that anchored together the catalytic and the binding modules.

dUTPase from the retrovirus equine infectious anemia virus: specificity, turnover and inhibition

The kinetic properties of dUTPase from equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) were investigated. K M (1.1 ± 0.1 μM) and k cat (25 s−1) were found to be independent of pH in the neutral pH range. Above pH 8.0, K M increases slightly. Below pH 6.0, the enzyme is rapidly deactivated. Detergent was found to enhance activity, leaving K M and k cat unaffected. Compared to the Escherichia coli dUTPase, the EIAV enzyme is equally potent in hydrolyzing dUTP, but less specific. Inhibition of the viral enzyme by the nucleotides dTTP, dUMP and a synthetic analogue, 2′‐deoxyuridine 5′‐(α,β‐imido)triphosphate, is stronger by one order of magnitude.

Rational Engineering of Mannosyl Binding in the Distal Glycone Subsites of Cellulomonas fimi Endo-beta-1,4-mannanase: Mannosyl Binding Promoted at Subsite-2 and Demoted at Subsite-3

To date, rational redesign of glycosidase active-site clefts has been mainly limited to the removal of essential functionalities rather than their introduction. The glycoside hydrolase family 26 endo-beta-1,4-mannanase from the soil bacterium Cellulomonas fimi depolymerizes various abundant plant mannans. On the basis of differences in the structures and hydrolytic action patterns of this wild-type (but recombinantly expressed) enzyme and a homologous mannanase from Cellvibrio japonicus, two nonconserved amino acid residues at two distal glycone-binding subsites of the C. fimi enzyme were substituted, Ala323Arg at subsite -2 and Phe325Ala at subsite -3, to achieve inverted mannosyl affinities in the respective subsites, mimicking the Ce. japonicus enzyme that has an Arg providing mannosyl interactions at subsite -2. The X-ray crystal structure of the C. fimi doubly substituted mannanase was determined to 2.35 A resolution and shows that the introduced Arg323 is in a position suitable for hydrogen bonding to mannosyl at subsite -2. We report steady-state enzyme kinetics and hydrolysis-product analyses using anion-exchange chromatography and a novel rapid mass spectrometric profiling method of (18)O-labeled products obtained using H(2)(18)O as a solvent. The results obtained with oligosaccharide substrates show that although the catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) is wild-type-like for the engineered enzyme, it has an altered hydrolytic action pattern that stems from promotion of substrate binding at subsite -2 (due to the introduced Arg323) and demotion of it at subsite -3 (to which removal of Phe325 contributed). However, k(cat)/K(m) decreased approximately 1 order of magnitude with polymeric substrates, possibly caused by spatial repositioning of the substrate at subsite -3 and beyond for the engineered enzyme.

The role of subsite +2 of the Trichoderma reesei beta-mannanase TrMan5A in hydrolysis and transglycosylation

The N-terminal catalytic module of β-mannanase TrMan5A from the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei is classified into family 5 of glycoside hydrolases. It is further classified in clan A with a (β/α)8 barrel configuration and has two catalytic glutamates (E169 and E276). It has at least five other residues conserved in family 5. Sequence alignment revealed that an arginine (R171 in TrMan5A) is semi-conserved among β-mannanases in family 5. In a previously published mannobiose complex structure, this residue is positioned in hydrogen bonding distance from the C2 hydroxyl group of the mannose residue bound at the +2 subsite. To study the function of R171, mutants of this residue were constructed. The results show that arginine 171 is important for substrate binding and transglycosylation. A mutant of TrMan5A with the substitution R171K displayed retained activity on polymeric galactomannan but reduced activity on oligosaccharides due to an increase of Km. While the wild-type enzyme produces mannobiose as dominant product from mannotetraose the R171K mutant shows an altered product profile, producing mannotriose and mannose. The cleavage pattern of mannotetraose was analysed with a method using isotope labelled water (H218O) and mass spectrometry which showed that the preferred productive binding mode of mannotetraose was shifted from subsite −2 to +2 in the wild-type to subsite −3 to +1 in the R171K mutant. Significant differences in product formation after manno-oligosaccharide incubation showed that the wild-type enzyme can perform transglycosylation on to saccharide acceptors while the R171K mutant cannot, likely due to loss of acceptor affinity. Interestingly, both enzymes show the ability to perform alcoholysis reactions with methanol and butanol, forming new β-linked glyco-conjugates. Furthermore, it appears that the wild-type enzyme produces mainly mannobiose conjugates using M4 as substrate, while in contrast the R171K mutant produces mainly mannotriose conjugates, due to the altered subsite binding.

An Aspergillus nidulans β-mannanase with high transglycosylation capacity revealed through comparative studies within glycosidase family 5

Abstractβ-Mannanases are involved in the conversion and modification of mannan-based saccharides. Using a retaining mechanism, they can, in addition to hydrolysis, also potentially perform transglycosylation reactions, synthesizing new glyco-conjugates. Transglycosylation has been reported for β-mannanases in GH5 and GH113. However, although they share the same fold and catalytic mechanism, there may be differences in the enzymes’ ability to perform transglycosylation. Three GH5 β-mannanases from Aspergillus nidulans, AnMan5A, AnMan5B and AnMan5C, which belong to subfamily GH5_7 were studied. Comparative studies, including the GH5_7 TrMan5A from Trichoderma reesei, showed some differences between the enzymes. All the enzymes could perform transglycosylation but AnMan5B stood out in generating comparably higher amounts of transglycosylation products when incubated with manno-oligosaccharides. In addition, AnMan5B did not use alcohols as acceptor, which was also different compared to the other three β-mannanases. In order to map the preferred binding of manno-oligosaccharides, incubations were performed in H218O. AnMan5B in contrary to the other enzymes did not generate any 18O-labelled products. This further supported the idea that AnMan5B potentially prefers to use saccharides as acceptor instead of water. A homology model of AnMan5B showed a non-conserved Trp located in subsite +2, not present in the other studied enzymes. Strong aglycone binding seems to be important for transglycosylation with saccharides. Depending on the application, it is important to select the right enzyme.

The family II carbohydrate-binding module of xylanase CflXyn11A from Cellulomonas flavigena increases the synergy with cellulase TrCel7B from Trichoderma reesei during the hydrolysis of sugar cane bagasse.

Synergy between Cellulomonas flavigena xylanase CflXyn11A and Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase TrCel7B was assessed during hydrolysis of alkaline pretreated sugar cane bagasse (SCB) after 12-48 h, applying the individual enzymes and mixtures of the enzymes. A high degree of synergy (6.3) between CflXyn11A and TrCel7B in hydrolysis of SCB was observed after 12h in the equimolar mixture. A threefold decrease in the degree of synergy was observed with TrCel7B and the catalytic module of CflXyn11A; suggesting an important role played by the carbohydrate-binding module of CflXyn11A (CflXyn11A-CBM) in the observed synergy. Affinity electrophoresis and binding assays showed that CflXyn11A-CBM binds to xylans and to a lesser extent to cellulose. Our results suggest that synergy is more pronounced at early stages of hydrolysis. Furthermore, for the first time it is described that a CBM carried by a xylanase significantly enhances the synergy with a cellulase (threefold increase in synergy).

Expression and Characterization of a Bifidobacterium adolescentis Beta-Mannanase Carrying Mannan-Binding and Cell Association Motifs

ABSTRACT The gene encoding β-mannanase (EC 3.2.1.78) BaMan26A from the bacterium Bifidobacterium adolescentis (living in the human gut) was cloned and the gene product characterized. The enzyme was found to be modular and to contain a putative signal peptide. It possesses a catalytic module of the glycoside hydrolase family 26, a predicted immunoglobulin-like module, and two putative carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) of family 23. The enzyme is likely cell attached either by the sortase mechanism (LPXTG motif) or via a C-terminal transmembrane helix. The gene was expressed in Escherichia coli without the native signal peptide or the cell anchor. Two variants were made: one containing all four modules, designated BaMan26A-101K, and one truncated before the CBMs, designated BaMan26A-53K. BaMan26A-101K, which contains the CBMs, showed an affinity to carob galactomannan having a dissociation constant of 0.34 μM (8.8 mg/liter), whereas BaMan26A-53K did not bind, showing that at least one of the putative CBMs of family 23 is mannan binding. For BaMan26A-53K, k cat was determined to be 444 s−1 and Km 21.3 g/liter using carob galactomannan as the substrate at the optimal pH of 5.3. Both of the enzyme variants hydrolyzed konjac glucomannan, as well as carob and guar gum galactomannans to a mixture of oligosaccharides. The dominant product from ivory nut mannan was found to be mannotriose. Mannobiose and mannotetraose were produced to a lesser extent, as shown by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. Mannobiose was not hydrolyzed, and mannotriose was hydrolyzed at a significantly lower rate than the longer oligosaccharides.

Phylogenetic analysis and substrate specificity of GH2 β-mannosidases from Aspergillus species.

Phylogenetic analysis of glycoside hydrolase family 2 including Aspergillus sequences and characterised β‐mannosidases from other organisms, clusters putative Aspergillus β‐mannosidases in two distinct clades (A and B). Aspergillus species have at least one paralog in each of the two clades. It appears that clade A members are extracellular and clade B members intracellular. Substrate specificity analysis of MndA of Aspergillus niger (clade A) and MndB of Aspergillus nidulans (clade B) show that MndB, in contrast to MndA, does not hydrolyse polymeric mannan and has probably evolved to hydrolyse small unbranched β‐mannosides like mannobiose. A 3D‐model of MndB provides further insight.

β-Mannanase-catalyzed synthesis of alkyl mannooligosides

Abstractβ-Mannanases catalyze the conversion and modification of β-mannans and may, in addition to hydrolysis, also be capable of transglycosylation which can result in enzymatic synthesis of novel glycoconjugates. Using alcohols as glycosyl acceptors (alcoholysis), β-mannanases can potentially be used to synthesize alkyl glycosides, biodegradable surfactants, from renewable β-mannans. In this paper, we investigate the synthesis of alkyl mannooligosides using glycoside hydrolase family 5 β-mannanases from the fungi Trichoderma reesei (TrMan5A and TrMan5A-R171K) and Aspergillus nidulans (AnMan5C). To evaluate β-mannanase alcoholysis capacity, a novel mass spectrometry-based method was developed that allows for relative comparison of the formation of alcoholysis products using different enzymes or reaction conditions. Differences in alcoholysis capacity and potential secondary hydrolysis of alkyl mannooligosides were observed when comparing alcoholysis catalyzed by the three β-mannanases using methanol or 1-hexanol as acceptor. Among the three β-mannanases studied, TrMan5A was the most efficient in producing hexyl mannooligosides with 1-hexanol as acceptor. Hexyl mannooligosides were synthesized using TrMan5A and purified using high-performance liquid chromatography. The data suggests a high selectivity of TrMan5A for 1-hexanol as acceptor over water. The synthesized hexyl mannooligosides were structurally characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance, with results in agreement with their predicted β-conformation. The surfactant properties of the synthesized hexyl mannooligosides were evaluated using tensiometry, showing that they have similar micelle-forming properties as commercially available hexyl glucosides. The present paper demonstrates the possibility of using β-mannanases for alkyl glycoside synthesis and increases the potential utilization of renewable β-mannans.

Enzymatic modification of manno-glycans

Murine kodecytes bearing both blood group A antigen and biotin (A+biotin kodecytes) were created by incubating equal volumes of packed murine red cells with a solution containing ( ) FSL-biotin and (10 ) of FSL-A (or FSL-GB3 as negative control). These A+biotin kodecytes or GB3+biotin kodecytes were then transfused (2 into the circulation of laboratory mice with or without anti-A (stimulated by immunisation with salivary blood group A substance). Blood was sampled ( ) at specific time points post transfusion and, using the secondary reagent surviving kodecytes could be identified in blood films and fluorescence microscopy (figure 2). Additionally b