Catalytic Carboxylate Research Articles

Biodiesel Promotes Iron-Catalyzed Oxidation of Engine Lubricating Oil

The growing trend of increasing biodiesel concentrations in diesel fuel blends has led to concerns about its effect on the oxidation of formulated oils within internal combustion engines. We observe that biodiesel is not only susceptible to rapid oxidation at elevated temperatures but is also responsible for acceleration of the oxidation process of the lubricant base oil when in the presence of soluble iron; this is supported by a range of control and model experiments. A mixture of oxidized biodiesel and Fe(III) leads to the formation of catalytic iron carboxylate networks that remain solubilized, as observed by UV–Vis and infrared absorption studies. These observations are important for the fundamental understanding of the chemistry within industry standard laboratory bench tests for lubricant oil formulations and can aid the design of new lubricants with improved biodiesel compatibility. Such lubricants have the potential for a reduced carbon footprint via waste reduction.

Potential Risk of NH3 Slip Arisen from Catalytic Inactive Site in Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx with Metal-Free Carbon Catalysts.

Ammonia emissions from industrial processes have rapidly increased in the past years. Recent advances have used carbon-based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology combined with a reaction-regeneration process to reduce NOx from sintering flue gas, while NH3 slip is seldom accounted for in this process. This study demonstrates that although the electrophilic carboxyl groups (-COOH) on metal-free carbon catalysts exhibit strong adsorption toward NH3, they do not participate in the SCR reaction. As a result of the competitive adsorption of NH3 in the reaction step, these catalytic inactive carboxyl groups not only prolong the time to the SCR steady state, but also result in the potential risk of NH3 slip. A linear relationship with the equimolar ratio between carboxyl groups and slipped NH3 was established in the regeneration steps. The slip of NH3 could be alleviated by the decomposition of carboxyl groups, and special attention should be paid to the presence of inactive sites with strong NH3 adsorption on industrial-employed carbon catalysts. In addition to advancing the understanding of the NH3-SCR mechanism, this work also provides valuable opportunities for the control of ammonia emissions from industrial processes.

Engineering the substrate binding site of the hyperthermostable archaeal endo-\u03b2-1,4-galactanase from Ignisphaera aggregans

BackgroundEndo-β-1,4-galactanases are glycoside hydrolases (GH) from the GH53 family belonging to the largest clan of GHs, clan GH-A. GHs are ubiquitous and involved in a myriad of biological functions as well as being widely used industrially. Endo-β-1,4-galactanases, in particular hydrolyse galactan and arabinogalactan in pectin, a major component of the primary plant cell wall, with important functions in plant defence and application in the food and other industries. Here, we explore the family’s biological diversity by characterizing the first archaeal and hyperthermophilic GH53 galactanase, and utilize it as a scaffold for engineering enzymes with different product lengths.ResultsA galactanase gene was identified in the genome of the anaerobic hyperthermophilic archaeon Ignisphaera aggregans, and the isolated catalytic domain expressed and characterized (IaGal). IaGal presents the typical (βα)8 barrel structure of clan GH-A enzymes, with catalytic carboxylates at the end of the 4th and 7th barrel strands. Its activity optimum of at least 95 °C and melting point over 100 °C indicate extreme thermostability, a very advantageous property for industrial applications. If enzyme depletion is reduced, so is the need for re-addition, and thus costs. The main stabilizing features of IaGal compared to other structurally characterized members are π–π and cation–π interactions. The length of the substrate binding site—and thus produced oligosaccharide products—is intermediate compared to previously characterized galactanases. Variants inspired by the structural diversity in the GH53 family were rationally designed to shorten or extend the substrate binding groove, in order to modulate product length. Subsite-deleted variants produced shorter products than IaGal, as do the fungal galactanases inspiring the design. IaGal variants engineered with a longer binding site produced a less expected degradation pattern, though still different from that of wild-type IaGal. All variants remained extremely stable.ConclusionsWe have characterized in detail the most thermophilic endo-β-1,4-galactanase known to date and successfully engineered it to modify the degradation profile, while maintaining much of its desirable thermostability. This is an important achievement as oligosaccharide products length is an important property for industrial and natural GHs alike.

Dynamic transfer auto-catalysis of epoxy vitrimers enabled by the carboxylic acid/epoxy ratio based on facilely synthesized trifunctional monoesterified cyclic anhydrides

Vitrimers based on transesterification exhibit reprocessable and amendable features, but highly rely on external catalyst to accelerate the stress relaxation and network rearrangement. Here we prepared reprocessable auto-catalyzed epoxy vitrimers via introducing dynamic transferrable monoesterified cyclic anhydrides into cross-linked networks. Two trifunctional monoesterified cyclic anhydrides MT and ST were facilely synthesized by catalyst-free melting reaction of maleic anhydride and succinic anhydride with trimethylolpropane, respectively, and were utilized to cure the bisphenol A epoxy DER 331. The excess monoesterified anhydrides (containing catalytic carboxyl groups) grafted in the cross-linked networks could undergo dynamic reversible reactions to transfer from one site to another, as a result, the transesterification at different sites of the networks could be effectively catalyzed. The dynamic transfer of catalytic group followed two mechanisms:i) removal-monoesterification of cyclic anhydrides and ii) transesterification of monoesterified cyclic anhydrides with hydroxyl group. In addition to the excellent reprocessability and rapid stress relaxation, the auto-catalyzed epoxy vitrimers presented high glass transition temperatures of ~110 °C, Young’s modulus of ~3103 MPa and tensile strength of ~70.6 MPa. This dynamic transfer catalysis will provide a new idea to accelerate the stress relaxation and network rearrangement of vitrimers.

Coordination among Bond Formation/Cleavage in a Bifunctional-Catalyzed Fast Amide Hydrolysis: Evidence for an Optimized Intramolecular N-Protonation Event.

A density functional theory (DFT) computational analysis, using the ωB97X-D functional, of a rapid amide cleavage in 2-carboxyphthalanilic acid (2CPA), where the amide group is flanked by two catalytic carboxyls, reveals key mechanistic information: (a) General base catalysis by a carboxylate coupled to general acid catalysis by a carboxyl is not operative. (b) Nucleophilic attack by a carboxylate on the amide carbonyl coupled to general acid catalysis at the amide oxygen can also be ruled out. (c) A mechanistic pathway that remains viable involves general acid proton delivery to the amide nitrogen by a carboxyl, while the other carboxylate engages in nucleophilic attack upon the amide carbonyl; a substantially unchanged amide carbonyl in the transition state; two concurrent bond-forming events; and a spatiotemporal-base rate acceleration. This mechanism is supported by molecular dynamic simulations which confirm a persistent key intramolecular hydrogen bonding. These theoretical conclusions, although not easily verified by experiment, are consistent with a bell-shaped pH/rate profile but are at odds with hydrolysis mechanisms in the classic literature.

Comparative investigation on catalytic ozonation of VOCs in different types over supported MnOx catalysts

This paper conducted catalytic ozonation of CB (chlorobenzene) over a series of MnOx based catalysts with different supports (Al2O3, TiO2, SiO2, CeO2, and ZrO2) at 120 °C. Mn/Al2O3 exhibited highest CB conversion efficiency, ca. 82.92 %, due to its excellent textual properties, O2 desorption, redox ability, and desirable surface adsorbed oxygen species and acidity. O3 conversion all approached nearly 100.0%, with residual <10 ppm. Mn/Al2O3 was further employed to investigate effect of temperature, O3/CB, and space velocity on CB conversion. Hereafter, catalytic ozonation of single and binary VOCs in different types was performed, i.e., CB, DCE (dichloroethane), DCM (dichloromethane), and PhH (Benzene). Conversion results demonstrated aromatics degraded easier than alkanes and more carbon atoms decreased difficulty, as CB∼PhH > DCE∼DCM, and DCE > DCM; but chlorinated substitution increased difficulty, as PhH > CB. Catalytic co-ozonation of CB/DCE indicated that DCE significantly improved CB conversion to reach totally degradation at low O3 input, but inhibited DCE conversion, especially at higher ratio of DCE/CB. Co-ozonation improved ozone utilization efficiency, and maintained the original property of catalyst. By contrast, CB/PhH co-ozonation displayed very mild effects. Finally, critical intermediates during catalytic CB ozonation, i.e., DCM, carboxyl and formic acid, were detected from mass spectrum results.

Electrochemical Approach for Direct C-H Phosphonylation of Unprotected Secondary Amine.

Direct α-phosphonylation of an unprotected secondary amine in a single step is of practical importance to amino phophophates. However, this protocol is limited due to the high redox barrier of unprotected amine. In this paper, we report C-H phosphonylation of an unprotected secondary amine via an electrochemical approach in the presence of catalytic carboxylate salt. This metal-free and exogenous oxidant-free method furnishes diverse target molecules with satisfactory yield under mild reaction conditions. Successful application of the protocol in a gram-scale experiment demonstrates the potential utility for further functionalization.

Evidence that a catalytic glutamate and an 'Arginine Toggle'act in concert to mediate ATP hydrolysis and mechanochemical coupling in a viral DNA packaging motor.

ASCE ATPases include ring-translocases such as cellular helicases and viral DNA packaging motors (terminases). These motors have conserved Walker A and B motifs that bind Mg2+-ATP and a catalytic carboxylate that activates water for hydrolysis. Here we demonstrate that Glu179 serves as the catalytic carboxylate in bacteriophage λ terminase and probe its mechanistic role. All changes of Glu179 are lethal: non-conservative changes abrogate ATP hydrolysis and DNA translocation, while the conservative E179D change attenuates ATP hydrolysis and alters single molecule translocation dynamics, consistent with a slowed chemical hydrolysis step. Molecular dynamics simulations of several homologous terminases suggest a novel mechanism, supported by experiments, wherein the conserved Walker A arginine ‘toggles’ between interacting with a glutamate residue in the ‘lid’ subdomain and the catalytic glutamate upon ATP binding; this switch helps mediate a transition from an ‘open’ state to a ‘closed’ state that tightly binds nucleotide and DNA, and also positions the catalytic glutamate next to the γ-phosphate to align the hydrolysis transition state. Concomitant reorientation of the lid subdomain may mediate mechanochemical coupling of ATP hydrolysis and DNA translocation. Given the strong conservation of these structural elements in terminase enzymes, this mechanism may be universal for viral packaging motors.

Exploration of Strategies for Mechanism-Based Inhibitor Design for Family GH99 endo-α-1,2-Mannanases.

endo‐α‐1,2‐Mannosidases and ‐mannanases, members of glycoside hydrolase family 99 (GH99), cleave α‐Glc/Man‐1,3‐α‐Man‐OR structures within mammalian N‐linked glycans and fungal α‐mannan, respectively. They are proposed to act through a two‐step mechanism involving a 1,2‐anhydrosugar “epoxide” intermediate incorporating two conserved catalytic carboxylates. In the first step, one carboxylate acts as a general base to deprotonate the 2‐hydroxy group adjacent to the fissile glycosidic bond, and the other provides general acid assistance to the departure of the aglycon. We report herein the synthesis of two inhibitors designed to interact with either the general base (α‐mannosyl‐1,3‐(2‐aminodeoxymannojirimycin), Man2NH2DMJ) or the general acid (α‐mannosyl‐1,3‐mannoimidazole, ManManIm). Modest affinities were observed for an endo‐α‐1,2‐mannanase from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Structural studies revealed that Man2NH2DMJ binds like other iminosugar inhibitors, which suggests that the poor inhibition shown by this compound is not a result of a failure to achieve the expected interaction with the general base, but rather the reduction in basicity of the endocyclic nitrogen caused by introduction of a vicinal, protonated amine at C2. ManManIm binds with the imidazole headgroup distorted downwards, a result of an unfavourable interaction with a conserved active site tyrosine. This study has identified important limitations associated with mechanism‐inspired inhibitor design for GH99 enzymes.

A short cross-linker activates human P-glycoprotein missing a catalytic carboxylate

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an ATP-dependent drug pump that protects us from toxic agents and confers multidrug resistance. It has a tweezer-like structure with each arm consisting of a transmembrane domain (TMD) and a nucleotide-binding domain (NBD). Drug substrates bind to sites within the TMDs to activate ATPase activity by promoting a tweezer-like closing of the gap between the NBDs. The catalytic carboxylates may be critical for NBD movements because the E556Q(NBD1) or E1201Q(NBD2) mutation inhibited drug-stimulated ATPase activity. If the catalytic carboxylates were components of the mechanism to bring the NBDs together, then we predicted that insertion of a flexible cross-linker between the arms would increase ATPase activity of the mutants. We found that cross-linking (between L175C(TMD1) and N820C(TMD2)) with a short flexible cross-linker (7.8Å maximum) restored high levels of drug-stimulated ATPase activity of the E556Q or E1201Q mutants. Cross-linking with a longer cross-linker (22Å maximum) however, did not restore activity. Cross-linking could not rescue all ATPase deficient mutants. For example, cross-linking L175C/N820C with short or long cross-linkers did not activate the H-loop mutants H587A or H1232A or the Walker A K433M or K1076M mutants. The results suggest that the E556 and E1201 catalytic carboxylates are part of a spring-like mechanism that is required to facilitate movements between the open and closed conformations of P-gp during ATP hydrolysis.

Is the acid/base catalytic residue mutation in β-d-mannosidase DtMan from Dictyoglomus thermophilum sufficient enough to provide thioglycoligase activity?

Glycoside hydrolases can be turned into thioglycoligase by mutation of the acid/base catalytic carboxylate residue. These mutants have proven valuable to generate S-glycosides, however, few examples in literature have described efficient thioglycoligase activity, and even fewer the underlying molecular mechanism. DtMan, a GH2 family β-d-mannosidase from the thermophilic Dictyoglomus thermophilum was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The recombinant protein is highly specific for β-d-mannosides, and exhibits efficient catalysis constants coupled to thermostability. However, seven variants bearing mutated acid/base residue could not be turned into efficient thioligases. Crystal structure of DtMan Glu425Cys mutant and molecular modeling calculations have demonstrated that unlike other GH2 thioligase reported, active site accessibility of thiol acceptor may be impaired by entrance loop rigidity. This structural feature may explain why DtMan mutants do not exhibit thioglycoligase activity.

Supramolecular Polymer/Surfactant Complexes as Catalysts for Phosphate Transfer Reactions

Designing artificial enzymes with tailored molecular interactions between the substrate and active site is of major intellectual and practical significance. We report the improved catalytic efficiency of a supramolecular polymer/surfactant complex comprised of PAIM–, a poly(acrylic acid) derivative with imidazole groups attached to the polymer by amide bonds, and the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Supramolecular complex formation, at concentrations below the respective CMC values, provides convenient hydrophobic pockets for the reactants close to the multiple catalytic centers, where imidazole and carboxylate groups act as nucleophiles for the degradation of a model phosphate triester, delivering the highly efficient performance of the supramolecular catalysts. Catalytic effects are on the order of thousands for nucleophilic catalysis and are higher by 2 orders of magnitude for the supramolecular polymer/surfactant complex at pH 9. The reported supramolecular catalytic complexe...

Dynamic mechanisms driving conformational conversions of the β and ε subunits involved in rotational catalysis of F&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt;-ATPase

F-type ATPase is a ubiquitous molecular motor. Investigations on thermophilic F1-ATPase and its subunits, β and ε, by NMR were reviewed. Using specific isotope labeling, pKa of the putative catalytic carboxylate in β was estimated. Segmental isotope-labeling enabled us to monitor most residues of β, revealing that the conformational conversion from open to closed form of β on nucleotide binding found in ATPase was an intrinsic property of β and could work as a driving force of the rotational catalysis. A stepwise conformational change was driven by switching of the hydrogen bond networks involving Walker A and B motifs. Segmentally labeled ATPase provided a well resolved NMR spectra, revealing while the open form of β was identical for β monomer and ATPase, its closed form could be different. ATP-binding was also a critical factor in the conformational conversion of ε, an ATP hydrolysis inhibitor. Its structural elucidation was described.

Relocation of active site carboxylates in major facilitator superfamily multidrug transporter LmrP reveals plasticity in proton interactions.

The expression of polyspecific membrane transporters is one important mechanism by which cells can obtain resistance to structurally different antibiotics and cytotoxic agents. These transporters reduce intracellular drug concentrations to subtoxic levels by mediating drug efflux across the cell envelope. The major facilitator superfamily multidrug transporter LmrP from Lactococcus lactis catalyses drug efflux in a membrane potential and chemical proton gradient-dependent fashion. To enable the interaction with protons and cationic substrates, LmrP contains catalytic carboxyl residues on the surface of a large interior chamber that is formed by transmembrane helices. These residues co-localise together with polar and aromatic residues, and are predicted to be present in two clusters. To investigate the functional role of the catalytic carboxylates, we generated mutant proteins catalysing membrane potential-independent dye efflux by removing one of the carboxyl residues in Cluster 1. We then relocated this carboxyl residue to six positions on the surface of the interior chamber, and tested for restoration of wildtype energetics. The reinsertion at positions towards Cluster 2 reinstated the membrane potential dependence of dye efflux. Our data uncover a remarkable plasticity in proton interactions in LmrP, which is a consequence of the flexibility in the location of key residues that are responsible for proton/multidrug antiport.

A Glycosyltransferase from Nicotiana alata Pollen Mediates Synthesis of a Linear (1,5)-α-L-Arabinan When Expressed in Arabidopsis.

The walls of Nicotiana alata pollen tubes contain a linear arabinan composed of (1,5)-α-linked arabinofuranose residues. Although generally found as a side chain on the backbone of the pectic polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan I, the arabinan in N. alata pollen tubes is considered free, as there is no detectable rhamnogalacturonan I in these walls. Carbohydrate-specific antibodies detected arabinan epitopes at the tip and along the shank of N. alata pollen tubes that are predominantly part of the primary layer of the bilayered wall. A sequence related to ARABINAN DEFICIENT1 (AtARAD1), a presumed arabinan arabinosyltransferase from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), was identified by searching an N alata pollen transcriptome. Transcripts for this ARAD1-like sequence, which we have named N. alata ARABINAN DEFICIENT-LIKE1 (NaARADL1), accumulate in various tissues, most abundantly in the pollen grain and tube, and encode a protein that is a type II membrane protein with its catalytic carboxyl terminus located in the Golgi lumen. The NaARADL1 protein can form homodimers when transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and heterodimers when coexpressed with AtARAD1 The expression of NaARADL1 in Arabidopsis led to plants with more arabinan in their walls and that also exuded a guttation fluid rich in arabinan. Chemical and enzymatic characterization of the guttation fluid showed that a soluble, linear α-(1,5)-arabinan was the most abundant polymer present. These results are consistent with NaARADL1 having an arabinan (1,5)-α-arabinosyltransferase activity.

A critical survey of average distances between catalytic carboxyl groups in glycoside hydrolases

Published X-ray crystallographic structures for glycoside hydrolases (GHs) from 39 different families are surveyed according to some rigorous selection criteria, and the distances separating 208 pairs of catalytic carboxyl groups (20 α-retaining, 87 β-retaining, 38 α-inverting, and 63 β-inverting) are analyzed. First, the average of all four inter-carboxyl O…O distances for each pair is determined; second, the mean of all the pair-averages within each GH family is determined; third, means are determined for groups of GH families. No significant differences are found for free structures compared with those complexed with a ligand in the active site of the enzyme, nor for α-GHs as compared with β-GHs. The mean and standard deviation (1σ) of the unimodal distribution of average O…O distances for all families of inverting GHs is 8 ± 2Å, with a very wide range from 5Å (GH82) to nearly 13Å (GH46). The distribution of average O…O distances for all families of retaining GHs appears to be bimodal: the means and standard deviations of the two groups are 4.8 ± 0.3Å and 6.4 ± 0.6Å. These average values are more representative, and more likely to be meaningful, than the often-quoted literature values, which are based on a very small sample of structures. The newly-updated average values proposed here may alter perceptions about what separations between catalytic residues are "normal" or "abnormal" for GHs.

Probing the influence of different oxygenated groups on graphene oxide's catalytic performance

Hydrothermally treated graphene oxide was found to be a new metal-free catalyst for reduction from 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. Based on the combined experimental and theoretical investigations, hydroxyl and alkoxy radicals, as well as holes were found beneficial to the catalytic performance, while epoxy and carboxyl groups were unfavorable and should be avoided in practical applications.

3D Structure Modeling of Alpha-Amino Acid Ester Hydrolase from Xanthomonas rubrilineans

Alpha-amino acid ester hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.43, AEH) is a promising biocatalyst for the production of semi-synthetic β-lactam antibiotics, penicillins and cephalosporins. The AEH gene from Xanthomonas rubrilineans (XrAEH) was recently cloned in this laboratory. The three-dimensional structure of XrAEH was simulated using the homology modeling method for rational design experiments. The analysis of the active site was performed, and its structure was specified. The key amino acid residues in the active site - the catalytic triad (Ser175, His341 and Asp308), oxyanion hole (Tyr83 and Tyr176), and carboxylate cluster (carboxylate groups of Asp209, Glu310 and Asp311) - were identified. It was shown that the optimal configuration of residues in the active site occurs with a negative net charge -1 in the carboxylate cluster. Docking of different substrates in the AEH active site was carried out, which allowed us to obtain structures of XrAEH complexes with the ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalexin, D-phenylglycine, and 4-hydroxy-D-phenylglycine methyl ester. Modeling of XrAEH enzyme complexes with various substrates was used to show the structures for whose synthesis this enzyme will show the highest efficiency.

Reinterpreting the Action of ATP Analogs on KATP Channels

Neuroendocrine-type K(ATP) channels, (SUR1/Kir6.2)4, couple the transmembrane flux of K(+), and thus membrane potential, with cellular metabolism in various cell types including insulin-secreting β-cells. Mutant channels with reduced activity are a cause of congenital hyperinsulinism, whereas hyperactive channels are a cause of neonatal diabetes. A current regulatory model proposes that ATP hydrolysis is required to switch SUR1 into post-hydrolytic conformations able to antagonize the inhibitory action of nucleotide binding at the Kir6.2 pore, thus coupling enzymatic and channel activities. Alterations in SUR1 ATPase activity are proposed to contribute to neonatal diabetes and type 2 diabetes risk. The regulatory model is partly based on the reduced ability of ATP analogs such as adenosine 5'-(β,γ-imino)triphosphate (AMP-PNP) and adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (ATPγS) to stimulate channel activity, presumably by reducing hydrolysis. This study uses a substitution at the catalytic glutamate, SUR(1E1507Q), with a significantly increased affinity for ATP, to probe the action of these ATP analogs on conformational switching. ATPγS, a slowly hydrolyzable analog, switches SUR1 conformations, albeit with reduced affinity. Nonhydrolyzable AMP-PNP and adenosine 5'-(β,γ-methylenetriphosphate) (AMP-PCP) alone fail to switch SUR1, but do reverse ATP-induced switching. AMP-PCP displaces 8-azido-[(32)P]ATP from the noncanonical NBD1 of SUR1. This is consistent with structural data on an asymmetric bacterial ABC protein that shows that AMP-PNP binds selectively to the noncanonical NBD to prevent conformational switching. The results imply that MgAMP-PNP and MgAMP-PCP (AMP-PxP) fail to activate K(ATP) channels because they do not support NBD dimerization and conformational switching, rather than by limiting enzymatic activity.

Strategies for Modulating the pH-Dependent Activity of a Family 11 Glycoside Hydrolase

The pH-dependent activity of wild-type Bacillus circulans xylanase (BcX) is set by the pK(a) values of its nucleophile Glu78 and general acid/base Glu172. Herein, we examined several strategies to manipulate these pK(a) values and thereby shift the pH(opt) at which BcX is optimally active. Altering the global charge of BcX through random succinylation had no significant effect. Mutation of residues near or within the active site of BcX, but not directly contacting the catalytic carboxyls, either had little effect or reduced its pH(opt), primarily by lowering the apparent pK(a) value of Glu78. However, mutations causing the largest pK(a) changes also impaired activity. Although not found as a general acid/base in naturally occurring xylanases, substitution of Glu172 with a His lowered the pH(opt) of BcX from 5.6 to 4.7 while retaining 8% activity toward a xylobioside substrate. Mutation of Asn35, which contacts Glu172, to either His or Glu also led to a reduction in pH(opt) by ~1.2 units. Detailed pK(a) measurements by NMR spectroscopy revealed that, despite the opposite charges of the introduced residues, both the N35H and N35E forms of BcX utilize a reverse protonation mechanism. In this mechanism, the pK(a) value of the general acid is lower than that of the nucleophile, and only a small population of enzyme is in a catalytically competent ionization state. However, overall activity is maintained due to the increased strength of the general acid. This study illustrates several routes for altering the pH-dependent properties of xylanases, while also providing valuable insights into complex protein electrostatics.