Talaromyces cellulolyticus (formerly known as Acremonium cellulolyticus) is one
of the mesophilic fungi that can produce high levels of cellulose-related
enzymes and are expected to be used for the degradation of polysaccharide
biomass. In silico analysis of the genome sequence of T. cellulolyticus detected
seven open reading frames (ORFs) showing homology to xylanases from glycoside
hydrolase (GH) family 11. The gene encoding the GH11 xylanase C (TcXylC) with
the highest activity was used for overproduction and purification of the
recombinant enzyme, permitting solving of the crystal structure to a resolution
of 1.98 Å. In the asymmetric unit, two kinds of the crystal structures of the
xylanase were identified. The main structure of the protein showed a β-jelly
roll structure. We hypothesize that one of the two structures represents the
open form and the other shows the close form. The changing of the flexible
region between the two structures is presumed to induce and accelerate the
enzyme reaction. The specificity of xylanase toward the branched xylan is
discussed in the context of this structural data and by comparison with the
other published structures of xylanases.