Arabinoxylanase

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Arabinoxylanase is an enzyme responsible for the degradation of arabinoxylan, a polysaccharide found in plant cell walls. This enzyme has been extensively studied due to its potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical and animal feed industries. Arabinoxylan is the most abundant hemicellulose in plant cell walls, accounting for about 20-30% of the dry weight of the cell wall. Arabinoxylan consists of xylose and arabinose monomers, which are connected by β-(1,4)-glycosidic bonds. The degradation of arabinoxylan is an important step in the cellulose degradation process as it allows cellulase to access the cellulose fibers within the cell wall. Arabinoxylanase is the enzyme responsible for the degradation of arabinoxylans.

Structure

Arabinoxylanase is a member of the glycohydrolase family 10 (GH10), which is characterized by a β-jelly roll fold structure. β-jelly roll fold structure consists of two β-sheets arranged in the form of jelly rolls. the active site of GH10 enzyme is located near the interface of the two β-sheets and contains conserved residues, including catalytic aspartate and glutamate residues.

Discovery

The first arabinoxylanase was discovered in 1983 from a thermophilic bacterium, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Since then, arabinoxylanases have been found in many microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and yeasts. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the identification and characterization of arabinoxylanases due to their potential applications in various fields.

Distribution

Arabinoxylanases are found in a variety of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, yeasts and plants. These enzymes are particularly abundant in microorganisms associated with plants, including those found in the digestive tract of ruminants. Although this enzyme is found primarily in nature, it can also be produced by recombinant DNA technology, making it widely available for use in various industries.

Functions

The main function of arabinoxylanase is to break down the arabinoxylan component of the plant cell wall. Arabinoxylanase cleaves the β-(1,4)-glycosidic linkages of the arabinoxylan backbone, releasing xylose and arabinose monomers. The released monomers can then be used as an energy source by microorganisms or other organisms possessing the necessary enzymes for further digestion.

Applications

• In the food industry, arabinoxylan enzyme is commonly used as an enzyme preparation in the production of bread, cereals and pasta products.
• In the pharmaceutical industry, arabinoxylanase has potential applications in the development of probiotics and prebiotic therapies.
• In the animal feed industry, arabinoxylanase is commonly used as an enzyme in poultry, pig and ruminant feeds to improve digestibility and reduce feed costs.

Clinical Significance

Arabinoxylan has been found to have potential clinical relevance in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Arabinoxylan, a substrate for arabinoxylanase, is present in large amounts in wheat bran and has been shown to have a protective effect on the development of IBD. Some studies suggest that supplementation with arabinoxylanase may improve the efficacy of wheat bran in the treatment of IBD, but more studies are needed to confirm this.

Conclusion

Arabinoxylanase is an important enzyme with many potential applications in various fields. The ability of this enzyme to degrade arabinoxylan, a major component of plant cell walls, makes it a valuable tool for the food, pharmaceutical and animal feed industries. Further research is needed to fully understand the clinical significance and potential applications of arabinoxylanase.