The family 11 carbohydrate-binding module of Clostridium thermocellum Lic26A-Cel5E accommodates beta-1,4- and beta-1,3-1,4-mixed linked glucans at a single binding site

Modular glycoside hydrolases that attack recalcitrant polymers generally contain noncatalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs), which play a critical role in the action of these enzymes by localizing the appended catalytic domains onto the surface of insoluble polysaccharide substrates. Type B CBMs, which recognize single polysaccharide chains, display ligand specificities that are consistent with the substrates hydrolyzed by the associated catalytic domains. In enzymes that contain multiple catalytic domains with distinct substrate specificities, it is unclear how these different activities influence the evolution of the ligand recognition profile of the appended CBM. To address this issue, we have characterized the properties of a family 11 CBM (CtCBM11) in Clostridium thermocellum Lic26A-Cel5E, an enzyme that contains GH5 and GH26 catalytic domains that display beta-1,4- and beta-1,3-1,4-mixed linked endoglucanase activity, respectively. Here we show that CtCBM11 binds to both beta-1,4- and beta-1,3-1,4-mixed linked glucans, displaying K(a) values of 1.9 x 10(5), 4.4 x 10(4), and 2 x 10(3) m(-1) for Glc-beta1,4-Glc-beta1,4-Glc-beta1,3-Glc, Glc-beta1,4-Glc-beta1,4-Glc-beta1,4-Glc, and Glc-beta1,3-Glc-beta1,4-Glc-beta1,3-Glc, respectively, demonstrating that CBMs can display a preference for mixed linked glucans. To determine whether these ligands are accommodated in the same or diverse sites in CtCBM11, the crystal structure of the protein was solved to a resolution of 1.98 A. The protein displays a beta-sandwich with a concave side that forms a potential binding cleft. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that Tyr(22), Tyr(53), and Tyr(129), located in the putative binding cleft, play a central role in the recognition of all the ligands recognized by the protein. We propose, therefore, that CtCBM11 contains a single ligand-binding site that displays affinity for both beta-1,4- and beta-1,3-1,4-mixed linked glucans.     

The location of the ligand-binding site of carbohydrate-binding modules that have evolved from a common sequence is not conserved.

Polysaccharide-degrading enzymes are generally modular proteins that contain non-catalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs), which potentiate the activity of the catalytic module. CBMs have been grouped into sequence-based families, and three-dimensional structural data are available for half of these families. Clostridium thermocellum xylanase 11A is a modular enzyme that contains a CBM from family 6 (CBM6), for which no structural data are available. We have determined the crystal structure of this module to a resolution of 2.1 A. The protein is a beta-sandwich that contains two potential ligand-binding clefts designated cleft A and B. The CBM interacts primarily with xylan, and NMR spectroscopy coupled with site-directed mutagenesis identified cleft A, containing Trp-92, Tyr-34, and Asn-120, as the ligand-binding site. The overall fold of CBM6 is similar to proteins in CBM families 4 and 22, although surprisingly the ligand-binding site in CBM4 and CBM22 is equivalent to cleft B in CBM6. These structural data define a superfamily of CBMs, comprising CBM4, CBM6, and CBM22, and demonstrate that, although CBMs have evolved from a relatively small number of ancestors, the structural elements involved in ligand recognition have been assembled at different locations on the ancestral scaffold.     

Importance of hydrophobic and polar residues in ligand binding in the family 15 carbohydrate-binding module from Cellvibrio japonicus Xyn10C

Modular glycoside hydrolases that degrade the plant cell wall often contain noncatalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) that interact with specific polysaccharides within this complex macromolecule. CBMs, by bringing the appended catalytic module into intimate and prolonged association with the substrate, increase the rate at which these enzymes are able to hydrolyze glycosidic bonds. Recently, the crystal structure of the family 15 CBM (CBM15) from Cellvibrio japonicus (formerly Pseudomonas cellulosa) Xyn10C was determined in complex with the ligand xylopentaose. In this report we have used a rational design approach, informed by the crystal structure of the CBM15-ligand complex, to probe the importance of hydrophobic stacking interactions and both direct and water-mediated hydrogen bonds in the binding of this protein to xylan and xylohexaose. The data show that replacing either Trp 171 or Trp 186, which stack against xylose residues n and n + 2 in xylopentaose, with alanine abolished ligand binding. Similarly, replacing Asn 106, Gln 171, and Gln 217, which make direct hydrogen bonds with xylopentaose, with alanine greatly reduced the affinity of the protein for its saccharide ligands. By contrast, disrupting water-mediated hydrogen bonds between CBM15 and xylopentaose by introducing the mutations S108A, Q167A, Q221A, and K223A had little effect on the affinity of the protein for xylan or xylohexaose. These data indicate that CBM15 binds xylan and xylooligosaccharides via the same interactions and provide clear evidence that direct hydrogen bonds are a key determinant of affinity in a type B CBM. The generic importance of these data is discussed.     

Mutational Insights into the Roles of Amino Acid Residues in Ligand Binding for Two Closely Related Family 16 Carbohydrate Binding Modules

Carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) are specialized proteins that bind to polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. Caldanaerobius polysaccharolyticus Man5ACBM16-1/CBM16-2 bind to glucose-, mannose-, and glucose/mannose-configured substrates. The crystal structures of the two proteins represent the only examples in CBM family 16, and studies that evaluate the roles of amino acid residues in ligand binding in this family are lacking. In this study, we probed the roles of amino acids (selected based on CBM16-1/ligand co-crystal structures) on substrate binding. Two tryptophan (Trp-20 and Trp-125) and two glutamine (Gln-81 and Gln-93) residues are shown to be critical in ligand binding. Additionally, several polar residues that flank the critical residues also contribute to ligand binding. The CBM16-1 Q121E mutation increased affinity for all substrates tested, whereas the Q21G and N97R mutants exhibited decreased substrate affinity. We solved CBM/substrate co-crystal structures to elucidate the molecular basis of the increased substrate binding by CBM16-1 Q121E. The Gln-121, Gln-21, and Asn-97 residues can be manipulated to fine-tune ligand binding by the Man5A CBMs. Surprisingly, none of the eight residues investigated was absolutely conserved in CBM family 16. Thus, the critical residues in the Man5A CBMs are either not essential for substrate binding in the other members of this family or the two CBMs are evolutionarily distinct from the members available in the current protein database. Man5A is dependent on its CBMs for robust activity, and insights from this study should serve to enhance our understanding of the interdependence of its catalytic and substrate binding modules.     

Recognition of cello-oligosaccharides by a family 17 carbohydrate-binding module: an X-ray crystallographic, thermodynamic and mutagenic study.

The crystal structure of the Clostridium cellulovorans carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) belonging to family 17 has been solved to 1.7 A resolution by multiple anomalous dispersion methods. CBM17 binds to non-crystalline cellulose and soluble beta-1,4-glucans, with a minimal binding requirement of cellotriose and optimal affinity for cellohexaose. The crystal structure of CBM17 complexed with cellotetraose solved at 2.0 A resolution revealed that binding occurs in a cleft on the surface of the molecule involving two tryptophan residues and several charged amino acids. Thermodynamic binding studies and alanine scanning mutagenesis in combination with the cellotetraose complex structure allowed the mapping of the CBM17 binding cleft. In contrast to the binding groove characteristic of family 4 CBMs, family 17 CBMs appear to have a very shallow binding cleft that may be more accessible to cellulose chains in non-crystalline cellulose than the deeper binding clefts of family 4 CBMs. The structural differences in these two modules may reflect non-overlapping binding niches on cellulose surfaces.     

Probing the mechanism of ligand recognition in family 29 carbohydrate-binding modules

The recycling of photosynthetically fixed carbon, by the action of microbial plant cell wall hydrolases, is integral to one of the major geochemical cycles and is of considerable industrial importance. Non-catalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) play a key role in this degradative process by targeting hydrolytic enzymes to their cognate substrate within the complex milieu of polysaccharides that comprise the plant cell wall. Family 29 CBMs have, thus far, only been found in an extracellular multienzyme plant cell wall-degrading complex from the anaerobic fungus Piromyces equi, where they exist as a CBM29-1:CBM29-2 tandem. Here we present both the structure of the CBM29-1 partner, at 1.5 A resolution, and examine the importance of hydrophobic stacking interactions as well as direct and solvent-mediated hydrogen bonds in the binding of CBM29-2 to different polysaccharides. CBM29 domains display unusual binding properties, exhibiting specificity for both beta-manno- and beta-gluco-configured ligands such as mannan, cellulose, and glucomannan. Mutagenesis reveals that "stacking" of tryptophan residues in the n and n+2 subsites plays a critical role in ligand binding, whereas the loss of tyrosine-mediated stacking in the n+4 subsite reduces, but does not abrogate, polysaccharide recognition. Direct hydrogen bonds to ligand, such as those provided by Arg-112 and Glu-78, play a pivotal role in the interaction with both mannan and cellulose, whereas removal of water-mediated interactions has comparatively little effect on carbohydrate binding. The interactions of CBM29-2 with the O2 of glucose or mannose contribute little to binding affinity, explaining why this CBM displays dual gluco/manno specificity.     

Family 6 carbohydrate binding modules recognize the non-reducing end of beta-1,3-linked glucans by presenting a unique ligand binding surface

Enzymes that hydrolyze insoluble complex polysaccharide structures contain non-catalytic carbohydrate binding modules (CBMS) that play a pivotal role in the action of these enzymes against recalcitrant substrates. Family 6 CBMs (CBM6s) are distinct from other CBM families in that these protein modules contain multiple distinct ligand binding sites, a feature that makes CBM6s particularly appropriate receptors for the beta-1,3-glucan laminarin, which displays an extended U-shaped conformation. To investigate the mechanism by which family 6 CBMs recognize laminarin, we report the biochemical and structural properties of a CBM6 (designated BhCBM6) that is located in an enzyme, which is shown, in this work, to display beta-1,3-glucanase activity. BhCBM6 binds beta-1,3-glucooligosaccharides with affinities of approximately 1 x 10(5) m(-1). The x-ray crystal structure of this CBM in complex with laminarihexaose reveals similarity with the structures of other CBM6s but a unique binding mode. The binding cleft in this protein is sealed at one end, which prevents binding of linear polysaccharides such as cellulose, and the orientation of the sugar at this site prevents glycone extension of the ligand and thus conferring specificity for the non-reducing ends of glycans. The high affinity for extended beta-1,3-glucooligosaccharides is conferred by interactions with the surface of the protein located between the two binding sites common to CBM6s and thus reveals a third ligand binding site in family 6 CBMs. This study therefore demonstrates how the multiple binding clefts and highly unusual protein surface of family 6 CBMs confers the extensive range of specificities displayed by this protein family. This is in sharp contrast to other families of CBMs where variation in specificity between different members reflects differences in the topology of a single binding site.     

The family 6 carbohydrate binding module CmCBM6-2 contains two ligand-binding sites with distinct specificities

The microbial degradation of the plant cell wall is an important biological process, representing a major component of the carbon cycle. Enzymes that mediate the hydrolysis of this composite structure are modular proteins that contain non-catalytic carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) that enhance catalytic activity. CBMs are grouped into sequence-based families, and in a previous study we showed that a family 6 CBM (CBM6) that interacts with xylan contains two potential ligand binding clefts, designated cleft A and cleft B. Mutagenesis and NMR studies showed that only cleft A in this protein binds to xylan. Family 6 CBMs bind to a range of polysaccharides, and it was proposed that the variation in ligand specificity observed in these proteins reflects the specific cleft that interacts with the target carbohydrate. Here the biochemical properties of the C-terminal cellulose binding CBM6 (CmCBM6-2) from Cellvibrio mixtus endoglucanase 5A were investigated. The CBM binds to the beta1,4-beta1,3-mixed linked glucans lichenan and barley beta-glucan, cello-oligosaccharides, insoluble forms of cellulose, the beta1,3-glucan laminarin, and xylooligosaccharides. Mutagenesis studies, informed by the crystal structure of the protein (presented in the accompanying paper, Pires, V. M. R., Henshaw, J. L., Prates, J. A. M., Bolam, D., Ferreira, L. M. A. Fontes, C. M. G. A., Henrissat, B., Planas, A., Gilbert, H. J., Czjzek, M. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 21560-21568), show that both cleft A and B can accommodate cello-oligosaccharides and laminarin displays a preference for cleft A, whereas xylooligosaccharides exhibit absolute specificity for this site, and the beta1,4,-beta1,3-mixed linked glucans interact only with cleft B. The binding of CmCBM6-2 to insoluble cellulose involves synergistic interactions between cleft A and cleft B. These data show that CmCBM6-2 contains two binding sites that display differences in ligand specificity, supporting the view that distinct binding clefts with different specificities can contribute to the variation in ligand recognition displayed by family 6 CBMs. This is in sharp contrast to other CBM families, where variation in ligand binding is a result of changes in the topology of a single carbohydrate-binding site.     

Functional characterization and mutation analysis of family 11, Carbohydrate-Binding Module (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ct</Emphasis>CBM11) of cellulosomal bifunctional cellulase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium thermocellum</Emphasis>

The non-catalytic, family 11 carbohydrate binding module (CtCBM11) belonging to a bifunctional cellulosomal cellulase from Clostridium thermocellum was hyper-expressed in E. coli and functionally characterized. Affinity electrophoresis of CtCBM11 on nondenaturing PAGE containing cellulosic polysaccharides showed binding with β-glucan, lichenan, hydroxyethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose. In order to elucidate the involvement of conserved aromatic residues Tyr 22, Trp 65 and Tyr 129 in the polysaccharide binding, site-directed mutagenesis was carried out and the residues were changed to alanine. The results of affinity electrophoresis and binding adsorption isotherms showed that of the three mutants Y22A, W65A and Y129A of CtCBM11, two mutants Y22A and Y129A showed no or reduced binding affinity with polysaccharides. These results showed that tyrosine residue 22 and 129 are involved in the polysaccharide binding. These residues are present in the putative binding cleft and play a critical role in the recognition of all the ligands recognized by the protein.     

Xyloglucan is recognized by carbohydrate-binding modules that interact with beta-glucan chains

Enzyme systems that attack the plant cell wall contain noncatalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) that mediate attachment to this composite structure and play a pivotal role in maximizing the hydrolytic process. Although xyloglucan, which includes a backbone of beta-1,4-glucan decorated primarily with xylose residues, is a key component of the plant cell wall, CBMs that bind to this polymer have not been identified. Here we showed that the C-terminal domain of the modular Clostridium thermocellum enzyme CtCel9D-Cel44A (formerly known as CelJ) comprises a novel CBM (designated CBM44) that binds with equal affinity to cellulose and xyloglucan. We also showed that accommodation of xyloglucan side chains is a general feature of CBMs that bind to single cellulose chains. The crystal structures of CBM44 and the other CBM (CBM30) in CtCel9D-Cel44A display a beta-sandwich fold. The concave face of both CBMs contains a hydrophobic platform comprising three tryptophan residues that can accommodate up to five glucose residues. The orientation of these aromatic residues is such that the bound ligand would adopt the twisted conformation displayed by cello-oligosaccharides in solution. Mutagenesis studies confirmed that the hydrophobic platform located on the concave face of both CBMs mediates ligand recognition. In contrast to other CBMs that bind to single polysaccharide chains, the polar residues in the binding cleft of CBM44 play only a minor role in ligand recognition. The mechanism by which these proteins are able to recognize linear and decorated beta-1,4-glucans is discussed based on the structures of CBM44 and the other CBMs that bind single cellulose chains.     

Structure of a family 15 carbohydrate-binding module in complex with xylopentaose. Evidence that xylan binds in an approximate 3-fold helical conformation

The recycling of photosynthetically fixed carbon by the action of microbial glycoside hydrolases is a key biological process. The consortium of degradative enzymes involved in this process frequently display catalytic modules appended to one or more noncatalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). CBMs play a central role in the optimization of the catalytic activity of plant cell wall hydrolases through their binding to specific plant structural polysaccharides. Despite their pivotal role in the biodegradation of plant biomass, the mechanism by which these proteins recognize their target ligands is unclear. This report describes the structure of a xylan-binding CBM (CBM15) in complex with its ligand. This module, derived from Pseudomonas cellulosa xylanase Xyn10C, binds to both soluble xylan and xylooligosaccharides. The three-dimensional crystal structure of CBM15 bound to xylopentaose has been solved by x-ray crystallography to a resolution of 1.6 A. The protein displays a similar beta-jelly roll fold to that observed in many other families of binding-modules. A groove, 20-25 A in length, on the concave surface of one of the beta-sheets presents two tryptophan residues, the faces of which are orientated at approximately 240 degrees to one another. These form-stacking interactions with the n and n+2 sugars of xylopentaose complementing the approximate 3-fold helical structure of this ligand in the binding cleft of CBM15. In four of the five observed binding subsites, the 2' and 3' hydroxyls of the bound ligand are solvent-exposed, providing an explanation for the capacity of this xylan-binding CBM to accommodate the highly decorated xylans found in the plant cell wall.     

High-resolution crystal structures of Caldicellulosiruptor strain Rt8B.4 carbohydrate-binding module CBM27-1 and its complex with mannohexaose

Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are the most common non-catalytic modules associated with enzymes active in plant cell-wall hydrolysis. Despite the large number of putative CBMs being identified by amino acid sequence alignments, only few representatives have been experimentally shown to have a carbohydrate-binding function. Caldicellulosiruptor strain Rt8B.4 Man26 is a thermostable modular glycoside hydrolase beta-mannanase which contains two non-catalytic modules in tandem at its N terminus. These modules were recently shown to function primarily as beta-mannan-binding modules and have accordingly been classified as members of a novel family of CBMs, family 27. The N-terminal CBM27 (CsCBM27-1) of Man26 from Caldicellulosiruptor Rt8B.4 displays high-binding affinity towards mannohexaose with a Ka of 1 x 10(7) M(-1). Accordingly, the high-resolution crystal structures of CsCBM27-1 native and its mannohexaose complex were solved at 1.55 angstroms and 1.06 angstoms resolution, respectively. In the crystal, CsCBM27-1 shows the typical beta-sandwich jellyroll fold observed in other CBMs with a single metal ion bound, which was identified as calcium. The crystal structures reveal that the overall fold of CsCBM27-1 remains virtually unchanged upon sugar binding and that binding is mediated by three solvent-exposed tryptophan residues and few direct hydrogen bonds. Based on binding affinity and thermal unfolding experiments this structural calcium is shown to play a role in the thermal stability of CsCBM27-1 at high temperatures. The higher binding affinity of CsCBM27-1 to mannooligosaccharides when compared to other members of CBM family 27 might be explained by the different orientation of the residues forming the "aromatic platform" and by differences in the length of loops. Finally, evidence is presented, on the basis of fold similarities and the retention of the position of conserved motifs and a calcium ion, for the consolidation of related CBM families into a superfamily of CBMs.     

The solution structure of the CBM4-2 carbohydrate binding module from a thermostable Rhodothermus marinus xylanase

The solution structure is presented for the second family 4 carbohydrate binding module (CBM4-2) of xylanase 10A from the thermophilic bacterium Rhodothermus marinus. CBM4-2, which binds xylan tightly, has a beta-sandwich structure formed by 11 strands, and contains a prominent cleft. From NMR titrations, it is shown that the cleft is the binding site for xylan, and that the main amino acids interacting with xylan are Asn31, Tyr69, Glu72, Phe110, Arg115, and His146. Key liganding residues are Tyr69 and Phe110, which form stacking interactions with the sugar. It is suggested that the loops on which the rings are displayed can alter their conformation on substrate binding, which may have functional importance. Comparison both with other family 4 cellulose binding modules and with the structurally similar family 22 xylan binding module shows that the key aromatic residues are in similar positions, and that the bottom of the cleft is much more hydrophobic in the cellulose binding modules than the xylan binding proteins. It is concluded that substrate specificity is determined by a combination of ring orientation and the nature of the residues lining the bottom of the binding cleft.     

Carbohydrate-binding domains: multiplicity of biological roles

Insoluble polysaccharides can be degraded by a set of hydrolytic enzymes formed by catalytic modules appended to one or more non-catalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBM). The most recognized function of these auxiliary domains is to bind polysaccharides, bringing the biocatalyst into close and prolonged vicinity with its substrate, allowing carbohydrate hydrolysis. Examples of insoluble polysaccharides recognized by these enzymes include cellulose, chitin, β-glucans, starch, glycogen, inulin, pullulan, and xylan. Based on their amino acid similarity, CBMs are grouped into 55 families that show notable variation in substrate specificity; as a result, their biological functions are miscellaneous. Carbohydrate or polysaccharide recognition by CBMs is an important event for processes related to metabolism, pathogen defense, polysaccharide biosynthesis, virulence, plant development, etc. Understanding of the CBMs properties and mechanisms in ligand binding is of vital significance for the development of new carbohydrate-recognition technologies and provide the basis for fine manipulation of the carbohydrate–CBM interactions.     

N-Acetylglucosamine Recognition by a Family 32 Carbohydrate-Binding Module from Clostridium perfringens NagH

Many carbohydrate-active enzymes have complex architectures comprising multiple modules that may be involved in catalysis, carbohydrate binding, or protein-protein interactions. Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are a common ancillary module whose function is to promote the adherence of the complete enzyme to carbohydrate substrates. CBM family 32 has been proposed to be one of the most diverse CBM families classified to date, yet all of the structurally characterized CBM32s thus far recognize galactose-based ligands. Here, we report a unique binding specificity and mode of ligand binding for a family 32 CBM. NagHCBM32-2 is one of four CBM32 modules in NagH, a family 84 glycoside hydrolase secreted by Clostridium perfringens. NagHCBM32-2 has the β-sandwich scaffold common to members of the family; however, its specificity for N-acetylglucosamine is unusual among CBMs. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the module at resolutions from 1.45 to 2.0 Å and in complex with disaccharides reveals that its mode of sugar recognition is quite different from that observed for galactose-specific CBM32s. This study continues to unravel the diversity of CBMs found in family 32 and how these CBMs might impart the carbohydrate-binding specificity to the extracellular glycoside hydrolases in C. perfringens.     

Structure of a mannan-specific family 35 carbohydrate-binding module: evidence for significant conformational changes upon ligand binding

Enzymes that digest plant cell wall polysaccharides generally contain non-catalytic, carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) that function by attaching the enzyme to the substrate, potentiating catalytic activity. Here, we present the first structure of a family 35 CBM, derived from the Cellvibrio japonicus beta-1,4-mannanase Man5C. The NMR structure has been determined for both the free protein and the protein bound to mannopentaose. The data show that the protein displays a typical beta-jelly-roll fold. Ligand binding is not located on the concave surface of the protein, as occurs in many CBMs that display the jelly-roll fold, but is formed by the loops that link the two beta-sheets of the protein, similar to family 6 CBMs. In contrast to the majority of CBMs, which are generally rigid proteins, CBM35 undergoes significant conformational change upon ligand binding. The curvature of the binding site and the narrow binding cleft are likely to be the main determinants of binding specificity. The predicted solvent exposure of O6 at several subsites provides an explanation for the observed accommodation of decorated mannans. Two of the key aromatic residues in Man5C-CBM35 that interact with mannopentaose are conserved in mannanase-derived CBM35s, which will guide specificity predictions based on the primary sequence of proteins in this CBM family.     

The crystal structure of the family 6 carbohydrate binding module from Cellvibrio mixtus endoglucanase 5a in complex with oligosaccharides reveals two distinct binding sites with different ligand specificities

Glycoside hydrolases that release fixed carbon from the plant cell wall are of considerable biological and industrial importance. These hydrolases contain non-catalytic carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) that, by bringing the appended catalytic domain into intimate association with its insoluble substrate, greatly potentiate catalysis. Family 6 CBMs (CBM6) are highly unusual because they contain two distinct clefts (cleft A and cleft B) that potentially can function as binding sites. Henshaw et al. (Henshaw, J., Bolam, D. N., Pires, V. M. R., Czjzek, M., Henrissat, B., Ferreira, L. M. A., Fontes, C. M. G. A., and Gilbert, H. J. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 21552-21559) show that CmCBM6 contains two binding sites that display both similarities and differences in their ligand specificity. Here we report the crystal structure of CmCBM6 in complex with a variety of ligands that reveals the structural basis for the ligand specificity displayed by this protein. In cleft A the two faces of the terminal sugars of beta-linked oligosaccharides stack against Trp-92 and Tyr-33, whereas the rest of the binding cleft is blocked by Glu-20 and Thr-23, residues that are not present in CBM6 proteins that bind to the internal regions of polysaccharides in cleft A. Cleft B is solvent-exposed and, therefore, able to bind ligands because the loop, which occludes this region in other CBM6 proteins, is much shorter and flexible (lacks a conserved proline) in CmCBM6. Subsites 2 and 3 of cleft B accommodate cellobiose (Glc-beta-1,4-Glc), subsite 4 will bind only to a beta-1,3-linked glucose, whereas subsite 1 can interact with either a beta-1,3- or beta-1,4-linked glucose. These different specificities of the subsites explain how cleft B can accommodate beta-1,4-beta-1,3- or beta-1,3-beta-1,4-linked gluco-configured ligands.     

Circular Permutation Provides an Evolutionary Link between Two Families of Calcium-dependent Carbohydrate Binding Modules

The microbial deconstruction of the plant cell wall is a critical biological process, which also provides important substrates for environmentally sustainable industries. Enzymes that hydrolyze the plant cell wall generally contain non-catalytic carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs) that contribute to plant cell wall degradation. Here we report the biochemical properties and crystal structure of a family of CBMs (CBM60) that are located in xylanases. Uniquely, the proteins display broad ligand specificity, targeting xylans, galactans, and cellulose. Some of the CBM60s display enhanced affinity for their ligands through avidity effects mediated by protein dimerization. The crystal structure of vCBM60, displays a β-sandwich with the ligand binding site comprising a broad cleft formed by the loops connecting the two β-sheets. Ligand recognition at site 1 is, exclusively, through hydrophobic interactions, whereas binding at site 2 is conferred by polar interactions between a protein-bound calcium and the O2 and O3 of the sugar. The observation, that ligand recognition at site 2 requires only a β-linked sugar that contains equatorial hydroxyls at C2 and C3, explains the broad ligand specificity displayed by vCBM60. The ligand-binding apparatus of vCBM60 displays remarkable structural conservation with a family 36 CBM (CBM36); however, the residues that contribute to carbohydrate recognition are derived from different regions of the two proteins. Three-dimensional structure-based sequence alignments reveal that CBM36 and CBM60 are related by circular permutation. The biological and evolutionary significance of the mechanism of ligand recognition displayed by family 60 CBMs is discussed.     

Recognition and hydrolysis of noncrystalline cellulose

Cellulase Cel5A from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. 1139 contains a family 17 carbohydrate-binding module (BspCBM17) and a family 28 CBM (BspCBM28) in tandem. The two modules have significantly similar amino acid sequences, but amino acid residues essential for binding are not conserved. BspCBM28 was obtained as a discrete polypeptide by engineering the cel5A gene. BspCBM17 could not be obtained as a discrete polypeptide, so a family 17 CBM from endoglucanase Cel5A of Clostridium cellulovorans, CcCBM17, was used to compare the binding characteristics of the two families of CBM. Both CcCBM17 and BspCBM28 recognized two classes of binding sites on amorphous cellulose: a high affinity site (K(a) approximately 1 x 10(6) M(-1)) and a low affinity site (K(a) approximately 2 x 10(4) M(-1)). They did not compete for binding to the high affinity sites, suggesting that they bound at different sites on the cellulose. A polypeptide, BspCBM17/CBM28, comprising the tandem CBMs from Cel5A, bound to amorphous cellulose with a significantly higher affinity than the sum of the affinities of CcCBM17 and BspCBM28, indicating cooperativity between the linked CBMs. Cel5A mutants were constructed that were defective in one or both of the CBMs. The mutants differed from the wild-type enzyme in the amounts and sizes of the soluble products produced from amorphous cellulose. This suggests that either the CBMs can modify the action of the catalytic module of Cel5A or that they target the enzyme to areas of the cellulose that differ in susceptibility to hydrolysis.     

Understanding the biological rationale for the diversity of cellulose-directed carbohydrate-binding modules in prokaryotic enzymes

Plant cell walls are degraded by glycoside hydrolases that often contain noncatalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs), which potentiate degradation. There are currently 11 sequence-based cellulose-directed CBM families; however, the biological significance of the structural diversity displayed by these protein modules is uncertain. Here we interrogate the capacity of eight cellulose-binding CBMs to bind to cell walls. These modules target crystalline cellulose (type A) and are located in families 1, 2a, 3a, and 10 (CBM1, CBM2a, CBM3a, and CBM10, respectively); internal regions of amorphous cellulose (type B; CBM4-1, CBM17, CBM28); and the ends of cellulose chains (type C; CBM9-2). Type A CBMs bound particularly effectively to secondary cell walls, although they also recognized primary cell walls. Type A CBM2a and CBM10, derived from the same enzyme, displayed differential binding to cell walls depending upon cell type, tissue, and taxon of origin. Type B CBMs and the type C CBM displayed much weaker binding to cell walls than type A CBMs. CBM17 bound more extensively to cell walls than CBM4-1, even though these type B modules display similar binding to amorphous cellulose in vitro. The thickened primary cell walls of celery collenchyma showed significant binding by some type B modules, indicating that in these walls the cellulose chains do not form highly ordered crystalline structures. Pectate lyase treatment of sections resulted in an increased binding of cellulose-directed CBMs, demonstrating that decloaking cellulose microfibrils of pectic polymers can increase CBM access. The differential recognition of cell walls of diverse origin provides a biological rationale for the diversity of cellulose-directed CBMs that occur in cell wall hydrolases and conversely reveals the variety of cellulose microstructures in primary and secondary cell walls.