Licheninase

Lichenase (EC 3.2.1.73, licheninase, beta-(1->4)-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, 1,3, 1,4-beta-glucan endohydrolase, 1,3, 1,4-beta-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, 1,3-1,4-beta-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase) is an enzyme with systematic name (1->3)-(1->4)-beta-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase. It was named after its activity in on lichenin (a form of mixed-linkage glucan). Lichenase (EC 3.2.1.73, licheninase, beta-(1->4)-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, 1,3, 1,4-beta-glucan endohydrolase, 1,3, 1,4-beta-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase, 1,3-1,4-beta-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase) is an enzyme with systematic name (1->3)-(1->4)-beta-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase. It was named after its activity in on lichenin (a form of mixed-linkage glucan). This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction The best-characterised variant of this of enzyme is Bacillus subtilis lichenase, which is used as a molecular biology tool in determining the structure of mixed-linkage glucans. This variant cleaves (1,4) bonds that immediately follow a (1,3) bond. Other lichenases have different specificities, for example Aspergillus japonicus lichenase cleaves (1,4) bonds that immediately precede a (1,3) bond. Lichenases are from glycoside hydrolase family 16, and share a jellyroll structure. A deep surface cleft acts as the substrate binding site.