DISTINGUISHING XYLOGLUCANASE ACTIVITY IN ENDO-beta(1 -> 4)GLUCANASES

The ability of beta-glucanases to cleave xyloglucans, a family of highly decorated beta-glucans ubiquitous in plant biomass, has traditionally been overlooked in functional biochemical studies. An emerging body of data indicates, however, that a spectrum of xyloglucan specificity resides in diverse glycoside hydrolases from a range of carbohydrate-active enzyme families including classic ``cellulase{''} families. This chapter outlines a series of enzyme kinetic and product analysis methods to establish degrees of xyloglucan specificity and modes of action of glycosidases emerging from enzyme discovery projects.