Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases of glycosyl hydrolase family 20 (GH20) 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. These enzymes are broadly distributed in microorganisms, plants and animals, and play roles in various key physiological and pathological processes. These processes include cell structural integrity, energy storage, cellular signaling, fertilization, pathogen defense, viral penetration, the development of carcinomas, inflammatory events and lysosomal storage disorders. The GH20 enzymes include the eukaryotic beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases A and B, the bacterial chitobiases, dispersin B, and lacto-N-biosidase. The GH20 hexosaminidases are thought to act via a catalytic mechanism in which the catalytic nucleophile is not provided by the solvent or the enzyme, but by the substrate itself.

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].

Glycosyl hydrolase family 20 (GH20) catalytic domain of dispersin B (DspB), lacto-N-biosidase (LnbB) and related proteins. Dispersin B is a soluble beta-N-acetylglucosamidase found in bacteria that hydrolyzes the beta-1,6-linkages of PGA (poly-beta-(1,6)-N-acetylglucosamine), a major component of the extracellular polysaccharide matrix. Lacto-N-biosidase hydrolyzes lacto-N-biose (LNB) type I oligosaccharides at the nonreducing terminus to produce lacto-N-biose as part of the GNB/LNB (galacto-N-biose/lacto-N-biose I) degradation pathway. The lacto-N-biosidase from Bifidobacterium bifidum has this GH20 domain, a carbohydrate binding module 32, and a bacterial immunoglobulin-like domain 2, as well as a YSIRK signal peptide and a G5 membrane anchor at the N and C termini, respectively. 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.

Thecrystal structure of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343 [Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343],4PYS_B The crystal structure of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343 [Bacteroides fragilis NCTC 9343]

Crystalstructure of GH20 Exo beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase from Vibrio harveyi [Vibrio harveyi],6EZR_B Crystal structure of GH20 Exo beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase from Vibrio harveyi [Vibrio harveyi],6EZS_A Crystal structure of GH20 Exo beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase from Vibrio harveyi in complex with N-acetylglucosamine [Vibrio harveyi],6EZS_B Crystal structure of GH20 Exo beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase from Vibrio harveyi in complex with N-acetylglucosamine [Vibrio harveyi],6K35_A Crystal structure of GH20 exo beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Vibrio harveyi in complex with NAG-thiazoline [Vibrio harveyi],6K35_B Crystal structure of GH20 exo beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Vibrio harveyi in complex with NAG-thiazoline [Vibrio harveyi]

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

Crystalstructure of GH20 Exo beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase D437A inactive mutant from Vibrio harveyi [Vibrio harveyi],6EZT_B Crystal structure of GH20 Exo beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase D437A inactive mutant from Vibrio harveyi [Vibrio harveyi]

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

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

Beta-hexosaminidase A OS=Caenorhabditis briggsae OX=6238 GN=hex-1 PE=3 SV=2

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

Beta-hexosaminidase 3 OS=Arabidopsis thaliana OX=3702 GN=HEXO3 PE=1 SV=1