PMID: 24407291

Authors:

Nyvall-Collen P, Jeudy A, Sassi JF, Groisillier A, Czjzek M, Coutinho PM, Helbert W

Title:

A novel unsaturated beta-glucuronyl hydrolase involved in ulvan degradation unveils the versatility of stereochemistry requirements in family GH105.

Journal:

J Biol Chem. 2014 Jan 9.

Abstract:

Ulvans are cell wall matrix polysaccharides in green algae belonging to the genus Ulva. Enzymatic degradation of the polysaccharide by ulvan lyases leads to the production of oligosaccharides with an unsaturated beta-glucuronyl residue located at the non-reducing end. Exploration of the genomic environment around the Nonlabens ulvanivorans (previously Percicivirga ulvanivorans) ulvan lyase revealed a gene highly similar to known unsaturated uronyl hydrolases classified in the CAZy glycoside hydrolase family 105. The gene was cloned, the protein was overexpressed in E. coli, and enzymology experiments demonstrated its unsaturated beta-glucuronyl activity. Kinetic analysis of purified oligo-ulvans incubated with the new enzyme showed that the full substrate specificity is attained by three subsites that preferentially bind anionic residues (sulfated rhamnose, glucuronic/iduronic acid). The 3D crystal structure of the native enzyme reveals that a trimeric organization is required for substrate binding and recognition at the +2 binding subsite. This novel unsaturated beta-glucuronyl hydrolase is part of a previously uncharacterized subgroup of GH105 members and exhibits only a very limited sequence similarity to known unsaturated alpha-glucuronyl sequences previously found only in family GH88. Clan-O formed by families GH88 and GH105 was singular in the fact that it covered families acting on both axial and equatorial glycosidic linkages, respectively. The overall comparison of active site structures between enzymes from these two families highlights how that within family GH105, and unlike for classical glycoside hydrolysis, the hydrolysis of vinyl ether groups from unsaturated saccharides occurs independently of the alpha- or beta-configuration of the cleaved linkage.