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Molecular determinants of ligand specificity in family 11 carbohydrate binding modules – an NMR, X‐ray crystallography and computational chemistry approach
Author(s) -
Viegas Aldino,
Brás Natércia F.,
Cerqueira Nuno M. F. S. A.,
Fernandes Pedro Alexandrino,
Prates José A. M.,
Fontes Carlos M. G. A.,
Bruix Marta,
Romão Maria João,
Carvalho Ana Luísa,
Ramos Maria João,
Macedo Anjos L.,
Cabrita Eurico J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06401.x
Subject(s) - cellobiose , clostridium thermocellum , carbohydrate binding module , chemistry , cellulase , ligand (biochemistry) , glycoside hydrolase , biochemistry , stereochemistry , crystallography , enzyme , receptor
The direct conversion of plant cell wall polysaccharides into soluble sugars is one of the most important reactions on earth, and is performed by certain microorganisms such as Clostridium thermocellum ( Ct ). These organisms produce extracellular multi‐subunit complexes (i.e. cellulosomes) comprising a consortium of enzymes, which contain noncatalytic carbohydrate‐binding modules (CBM) that increase the activity of the catalytic module. In the present study, we describe a combined approach by X‐ray crystallography, NMR and computational chemistry that aimed to gain further insight into the binding mode of different carbohydrates (cellobiose, cellotetraose and cellohexaose) to the binding pocket of the family 11 CBM. The crystal structure of C. thermocellum CBM11 has been resolved to 1.98 Å in the apo form. Since the structure with a bound substrate could not be obtained, computational studies with cellobiose, cellotetraose and cellohexaose were carried out to determine the molecular recognition of glucose polymers by Ct CBM11. These studies revealed a specificity area at the Ct CBM11 binding cleft, which is lined with several aspartate residues. In addition, a cluster of aromatic residues was found to be important for guiding and packing of the polysaccharide. The binding cleft of Ct CBM11 interacts more strongly with the central glucose units of cellotetraose and cellohexaose, mainly through interactions with the sugar units at positions 2 and 6. This model of binding is supported by saturation transfer difference NMR experiments and linebroadening NMR studies.