AIMS Soils are rich, diversified environments where β-glucosidases abound because of their importance in organic matter degradation. The aim of this work was to discover new β-glucosidases by constructing two metagenomic DNA libraries from soil samples collected in winter and spring from a field of winter wheat. METHODS AND RESULTS Both libraries were screened on esculin-supplemented medium s...

The extremely thermophilic, Gram-positive bacteria Caldicellulosiruptor bescii and Caldicellulosiruptor obsidiansis efficiently degrade both cellulose and hemicellulose, which makes them relevant models for lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction to produce sustainable biofuels. To identify the shared and unique features of secreted cellulolytic apparatuses from C. bescii and C. obsidiansis, lab...

Using structural insight, the binding mode of isofagomine-derived inhibitors with family GH9 glycosidases is achieved via the study of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius (AaCel9A) endoglucanase. In contrast to what was observed in the first report using these compounds with inverting glycosidases from family GH6, these inhibitors do not adopt a distorted conformation in the active site.

We developed supramolecular hydrogels exhibiting reversible thermochromism concurrently with gel-to-sol transition from four glycolipids. In addition, these gels showed the similar color change in response to glycosidases, which can be employed to construct a colorimetric sensor array chip for sensing glycosidases with the naked eye.

Carbohydrates are the most abundant and structurally diverse class of biological compounds in nature. However, our current understanding regarding the relationship between carbohydrate structure and its biological function is still far from what is known regarding proteins and nucleic acids. Initially, carbohydrates were only recognized as structural and energy storage molecules (e.g. cellulose...

Inhibitory activities of A-72363 A-1, A-2 and C, the diastereomers of a neuraminidase inhibitor siastatin B, against various glycosidases were tested in comparison to siastatin B. Despite these compounds differing only in their configuration, each compound showed strikingly different specificities towards the various glycosidases tested. A-72363 C inhibited bovine liver beta-glucuronidase and t...

Increased tissue activity of cathepsin A and cathepsin C can be observed in many pathological conditions. It is associated with an enhanced degradation of glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins, and results in their decreased tissue content. Cathepsin C releases the glycosidases from complexes formed with cathepsin A, and reinstates their activity. In this review a current state o...

A highly purified preparation of 1,2-oc-L-fucosidase, free of /3-galactosidase and P-N-acetylglucosaminidase activities, has been obtained from a commercial preparation of Aspergillus niger by a simple isolation procedure involving ammonium sulfate precipitation, pressure dialysis, repeated gel Cltration on Sephadex G-150, and chromatography on diethylaminoethyl Sephadex A-50. The enzyme has a ...