InterPro: IPR001000 Glycoside hydrolase, family 10

O-Glycosyl hydrolases EC:3.2.1. are a widespread group of enzymes that hydrolyse the glycosidic bond between two or more carbohydrates, or between a carbohydrate and a non-carbohydrate moiety. A classification system for glycosyl hydrolases, based on sequence similarity, has led to the definition of 85 different families [1, 2, 3]. This classification is available on the CAZy (CArbohydrate-Active EnZymes) web site [4]. Because the fold of proteins is better conserved than their sequences, some of the families can be grouped in clans.

Glycoside hydrolase family 10 GH10 comprises enzymes with a number of known activities; xylanase (EC:3.2.1.8); endo-1,3-beta-xylanase (EC:3.2.1.32); cellobiohydrolase (EC:3.2.1.91). These enzymes were formerly known as cellulase family F.

The microbial degradation of cellulose and xylans requires several types of enzymes such as endoglucanases (EC:3.2.1.4), cellobiohydrolases (EC:3.2.1.91) (exoglucanases), or xylanases (EC:3.2.1.8) [5, 6]. Fungi and bacteria produces a spectrum of cellulolytic enzymes (cellulases) and xylanases which, on the basis of sequence similarities, can be classified into families. One of these families is known as the cellulase family F [7] or as the glycosyl hydrolases family 10 [8].