The chitobiase of Serratia marcescens is a beta-N-1,4-acetylhexosaminidase with a glycosyl hydrolase family 20 (GH20) domain that hydrolyzes the beta-1,4-glycosidic linkages in oligomers derived from chitin. Chitin is degraded by a two step process: i) a chitinase hydrolyzes the chitin to oligosaccharides and disaccharides such as di-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and chitobiose, ii) chitobiase then further degrades these oligomers into monomers. This GH20 domain family includes an N-acetylglucosamidase (GlcNAcase A) from Pseudoalteromonas piscicida and an N-acetylhexosaminidase (SpHex) from Streptomyces plicatus. SpHex lacks the C-terminal PKD (polycystic kidney disease I)-like domain found in the chitobiases. The GH20 hexosaminidases are thought to act via a catalytic mechanism in which the catalytic nucleophile is not provided by solvent or the enzyme, but by the substrate itself.

Glycosyl hydrolase family 20, catalytic domain. This domain has a TIM barrel fold.

N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase [Carbohydrate transport and metabolism].

A functionally uncharacterized subgroup of the Glycosyl hydrolase family 20 (GH20) catalytic domain found in proteins similar to the chitobiase of Serratia marcescens, a beta-N-1,4-acetylhexosaminidase that hydrolyzes the beta-1,4-glycosidic linkages in oligomers derived from chitin. Chitin is degraded by a two step process: i) a chitinase hydrolyzes the chitin to oligosaccharides and disaccharides such as di-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and chitobiose, ii) chitobiase then further degrades these oligomers into monomers. This subgroup lacks the C-terminal PKD (polycystic kidney disease I)-like domain found in the chitobiases. The GH20 hexosaminidases are thought to act via a catalytic mechanism in which the catalytic nucleophile is not provided by solvent or the enzyme, but by the substrate itself.

Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases catalyze the removal of beta-1,4-linked N-acetyl-D-hexosamine residues from the non-reducing ends of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminides including N-acetylglucosides and N-acetylgalactosides. The hexA and hexB genes encode the alpha- and beta-subunits of the two major beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase isoenzymes, N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase A (HexA) and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase B (HexB). Both the alpha and the beta catalytic subunits have a TIM-barrel fold and belong to the glycosyl hydrolase family 20 (GH20). The HexA enzyme is a heterodimer containing one alpha and one beta subunit while the HexB enzyme is a homodimer containing two beta-subunits. Hexosaminidase mutations cause an inability to properly hydrolyze certain sphingolipids which accumulate in lysosomes within the brain, resulting in the lipid storage disorders Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff. Mutations in the alpha subunit cause in a deficiency in the HexA enzyme and result in Tay-Sachs, mutations in the beta-subunit cause in a deficiency in both HexA and HexB enzymes and result in Sandhoff disease. In both disorders GM(2) gangliosides accumulate in lysosomes. The GH20 hexosaminidases are thought to act via a catalytic mechanism in which the catalytic nucleophile is not provided by solvent or the enzyme, but by the substrate itself.

CrystalStructure of Beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidase from Arthrobacter aurescens [Paenarthrobacter aurescens TC1]

BT0459[Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron],6Q63_B BT0459 [Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron],6Q63_C BT0459 [Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron]

Crystalstructure of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase Am0868 from Akkermansia muciniphila [Akkermansia muciniphila ATCC BAA-835],7CBO_A Crystal structure of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase Am0868 from Akkermansia muciniphila in complex with GlcNAc [Akkermansia muciniphila ATCC BAA-835]

ChainA, Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase [Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron],7DVA_A Chain A, Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase [Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron],7DVA_B Chain B, Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase [Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron]

ChainA, Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase [Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron],7DVB_B Chain B, Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase [Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron],7DVB_C Chain C, Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase [Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron],7DVB_D Chain D, Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase [Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron]

Beta-hexosaminidase Amuc_0868 OS=Akkermansia muciniphila (strain ATCC BAA-835 / DSM 22959 / JCM 33894 / BCRC 81048 / CCUG 64013 / CIP 107961 / Muc) OX=349741 GN=Amuc_0868 PE=1 SV=1

Beta-hexosaminidase OS=Porphyromonas gingivalis (strain ATCC BAA-308 / W83) OX=242619 GN=nahA PE=3 SV=2

Beta-hexosaminidase Amuc_2018 OS=Akkermansia muciniphila (strain ATCC BAA-835 / DSM 22959 / JCM 33894 / BCRC 81048 / CCUG 64013 / CIP 107961 / Muc) OX=349741 GN=Amuc_2018 PE=1 SV=1

Beta-hexosaminidase OS=Vibrio furnissii OX=29494 GN=exoI PE=1 SV=1

Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase OS=Cellulomonas fimi OX=1708 GN=hex20 PE=1 SV=1