Microbial xyloglucanases: a comprehensive review

Xyloglucan is one of the major hemicellulose components of the plant cell wall in majority of dicots and many monocots. Xyloglucanases break down xyloglucan and their role is implicated in the process of plant growth and pathogenesis. They are ubiquitously found in plants as well as in a variety of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, etc. In microbes, they are majorly extracellular and are active at a wide range of pH and temperature. They are a diverse group, with varying physicochemical and/or functional properties as well as substrate specificities and thereby the products they give rise to. Their biotechnological potential is immense, with applications in paper and pulp, textile, pharmaceutical and food industries as well as in production of biomaterials and biofuels. This review attempts to give an overview about microbial xyloglucanases and includes important sources, biochemical properties, industrial applications and a brief look at their catalytic mechanisms and GH families.