Active-site binding of glycosides by 'Thermomonospora fusca' endocellulase E2

X-ray crystallography has been used to determine the three-dimensional structures of many cellulose-degradable cellulases including the bacterial endocellulase Thermomonospora fusca E2. Fluorescence titration is used to study E2 interaction with a series of 4-methylumbelliferyl glycosides while displacement titration is used to study E2 binding to several non-fluorescent glycosides. Results indicate that E2 binds glycosides with high affinity and specificity.