Physicochemical and catalytic properties of a low-molecular-weight endo-1,4-β-d-xylanase from Myrothecium verrucaria

A low-molecular-weight endo-β-1,4- d -xylanase (endo-β-1,4- d -xylan xylanohydrolase; E.C. 3.2.1.8) isolated from solid-state cultures of Myrothecium verrucaria has M r and pI values of 15,900 and 4.35, respectively, and a carbohydrate content of 11% (w/w). The enzyme is most active at pH 5.5 and 45°C, and has a half-life of 16 min at pH 5, 50°C. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of various β-1,4-linked and mixed (1,3; 1,4)-linked β-glucans, but kinetic parameters showed it to be primarily a xylanase. Inhibition studies suggested the possible involvement of arginine, cysteine, histidine, tryptophan, and a carboxylate(s) in binding or catalysis. The pattern of products of hydrolysis of various xylans and of xylopentaose clearly demonstrated the purified enzyme to be an endo-β-1,4-xylan xylanohydrolase (E.C. 3.2.1.8).