Abstract
Glycan sulfation is a widespread postglycosylation modification crucial for modulating biological functions including cellular adhesion, signaling, and bacterial colonization. 6-Sulfo-β-GlcNAcases are a class of enzyme that alters sulfation patterns. Such changes in sulfation patterns are linked to diseases such as bowel inflammation, colitis, and cancer. Despite their significance, 6-sulfo-β-GlcNAcases, which cleave β-linked 6-sulfo-N-acetylglucosamine (6S-GlcNAc), have been but rarely identified. This scarcity results mainly from the short, diverse, and distinctive sulfate-binding motifs required for recognition of the 6-sulfate group in 6S-GlcNAc in addition to the conserved GH20 family features. In this study, we discovered 6-sulfo-β-GlcNAcases and assigned two novel sulfate-binding motifs by the use of comparative genomics, structural predictions, and activity-based screening. Our findings expand the known microbiota capable of degrading sulfated glycans and add significant enzymes to the tool kit for analysis and synthesis of sulfated oligosaccharides.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have