Streptomyces matensis laminaripentaose hydrolase is an 'inverting' beta-1,3-glucanase

The laminaripentaose-producing beta -1,3-glucanase of Streptomyces matensis is a member of the glycoside hydrolase family GH-64. We have constructed a nd purified a recombinant hexahistidine-tagged form of the enzyme for chara cterisation, The enzyme, which exists as a monomer in solution, hydrolysis beta -1,3-glucan by a mechanism leading to overall inversion of the anomeri c configuration. This is the first determination of the mechanism prevailin g in glycoside hydrolase family GH-64 and this is the first characterisatio n of an 'inverting' beta -1,3-glucanase. (C) 2001 Federation of European Bi ochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B,V, All rights reserved .