Putative catalytic NodB homology domain of uncharacterized BH0857 protein from Bacillus halodurans and its bacterial homologs. This family is represented by a putative polysaccharide deacetylase BH0857 from Bacillus halodurans. Although its biological function still remains unknown, BH0857 shows high sequence homology to the catalytic NodB homology domain of Streptococcus pneumoniae polysaccharide deacetylase PgdA (SpPgdA), which is an extracellular metal-dependent polysaccharide deacetylase with de-N-acetylase activity toward a hexamer of chitooligosaccharide N-acetylglucosamine, but not shorter chitooligosaccharides or a synthetic peptidoglycan tetrasaccharide. Both BH0857 and SpPgdA belong to the carbohydrate esterase 4 (CE4) superfamily. This family also includes many uncharacterized bacterial polysaccharide deacetylases.

Catalytic NodB homology domain of rhizobial NodB-like proteins. This family belongs to the large and functionally diverse carbohydrate esterase 4 (CE4) superfamily, whose members show strong sequence similarity with some variability due to their distinct carbohydrate substrates. It includes many rhizobial NodB chitooligosaccharide N-deacetylase (EC 3.5.1.-)-like proteins, mainly from bacteria and eukaryotes, such as chitin deacetylases (EC 3.5.1.41), bacterial peptidoglycan N-acetylglucosamine deacetylases (EC 3.5.1.-), and acetylxylan esterases (EC 3.1.1.72), which catalyze the N- or O-deacetylation of substrates such as acetylated chitin, peptidoglycan, and acetylated xylan. All members of this family contain a catalytic NodB homology domain with the same overall topology and a deformed (beta/alpha)8 barrel fold with 6- or 7 strands. Their catalytic activity is dependent on the presence of a divalent cation, preferably cobalt or zinc, and they employ a conserved His-His-Asp zinc-binding triad closely associated with the conserved catalytic base (aspartic acid) and acid (histidine) to carry out acid/base catalysis. Several family members show diversity both in metal ion specificities and in the residues that coordinate the metal.

Peptidoglycan/xylan/chitin deacetylase, PgdA/CDA1 family [Carbohydrate transport and metabolism, Cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis].

Catalytic NodB homology domain of Clostridium thermocellum acetylxylan esterase and its bacterial homologs. This family is represented by Clostridium thermocellum acetylxylan esterase (CtAXE, EC 3.1.1.72), a member of the carbohydrate esterase 4 (CE4) superfamily. CtAXE deacetylates O-acetylated xylan, a key component of plant cell walls. It shows no detectable activity on generic esterase substrates including para-nitrophenyl acetate. It is specific for sugar-based substrates and will precipitate acetylxylan, as a consequence of deacetylation. CtAXE is a monomeric protein containing a catalytic NodB homology domain with the same overall topology and a deformed (beta/alpha)8 barrel fold as other CE4 esterases. However, due to differences in the topography of the substrate-binding groove, the chemistry of the active center, and metal ion coordination, CtAXE has different metal ion preference and lacks activity on N-acetyl substrates. It is significantly activated by Co2+. Moreover, CtAXE displays distinctly different ligand coordination to the metal ion, utilizing an aspartate, a histidine, and four water molecules, as opposed to the conserved His-His-Asp zinc-binding triad of other CE4 esterases.

Catalytic NodB homology domain of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum chitin deacetylase and similar proteins. This family is represented by the chitin deacetylase (endo-chitin de-N-acetylase, ClCDA, EC 3.5.1.41) from Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (also known as Glomerella lindemuthiana), which is a member of the carbohydrate esterase 4 (CE4) superfamily. ClCDA catalyzes the hydrolysis of N-acetamido groups of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in chitin, converting it to chitosan in fungal cell walls. It consists of a single catalytic domain similar to the deformed (alpha/beta)8 barrel fold adopted by other CE4 esterases, which encompasses a mononuclear metalloenzyme employing a conserved His-His-Asp zinc-binding triad closely associated with the conserved catalytic base (aspartic acid) and acid (histidine), to carry out acid/base catalysis. It possesses a highly conserved substrate-binding groove, with subtle alterations that influence substrate specificity and subsite affinity. Unlike its bacterial homologs, ClCDA contains two intramolecular disulfide bonds that may add stability to this secreted protein. The family also includes many uncharacterized deacetylases and hypothetical proteins mainly from eukaryotes, which show high sequence similarity to ClCDA.

Structureof a family 4 carbohydrate esterase from Bacillus anthracis [Bacillus anthracis str. Ames]

Structureof Bacillus subtilis PdaA in complex with NAG, a family 4 Carbohydrate esterase. [Bacillus subtilis],1W1A_2 Structure of Bacillus subtilis PdaA in complex with NAG, a family 4 Carbohydrate esterase. [Bacillus subtilis],1W1B_1 Structure of Bacillus subtilis PdaA with Cadmium, a family 4 Carbohydrate esterase. [Bacillus subtilis],1W1B_2 Structure of Bacillus subtilis PdaA with Cadmium, a family 4 Carbohydrate esterase. [Bacillus subtilis]

Crystalstructure of a BA3943 mutant,a CE4 family pseudoenzyme with restored enzymatic activity. [Bacillus anthracis]

Crystalstructure of a BA3943 mutant,a CE4 family pseudoenzyme [Bacillus anthracis]

ChainA, Putative polysaccharide deacetylase [Bacillus anthracis]

Peptidoglycan-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase PgdA OS=Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2a (strain 10403S) OX=393133 GN=pgdA PE=2 SV=1

Peptidoglycan-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase PgdA OS=Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2a (strain EGD / Mackaness) OX=1334565 GN=pgdA PE=1 SV=1

Peptidoglycan-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase PgdA OS=Listeria monocytogenes serovar 1/2a (strain ATCC BAA-679 / EGD-e) OX=169963 GN=pgdA PE=1 SV=1

Chitooligosaccharide deacetylase OS=Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae OX=387 GN=nodB PE=3 SV=1