STRUCTURAL AND SEQUENCE-BASED CLASSIFICATION OF GLYCOSIDE HYDROLASES

The diversity of oligo-and polysaccharides provides an abundance of bi ological roles for these carbohydrates. The enzymes hydrolysing these compounds, the glycoside hydrolases, therefore mediate a wealth of bio logical functions. Glycoside hydrolases fall into a number of sequence -based families. The recent analysis of these families, coupled with t he burgeoning number of 3D structures, provides a detailed insight int o the structure, function and catalytic mechanism of these enzymes.The diversity of oligo-and polysaccharides provides an abundance of biolo gical roles for these carbohydrates. The enzymes hydrolysing these com pounds, the glycoside hydrolases, therefore mediate a wealth of biolog ical functions. Glycoside hydrolases fall into a number of sequence-ba sed families. The recent analysis of these families, coupled with the burgeoning number of 3D structures, provides a detailed insight into t he structure, function and catalytic mechanism of these enzymes. (C) C urrent Biology Ltd ISSN 0959-440X