Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of a thermostable glycoside hydrolase family 43 β-xylosidase from Geobacillus thermoleovorans IT-08

The main enzymes involved in xylan-backbone hydrolysis are endo-1,4-beta-xylanase and beta-xylosidase. beta-Xylosidase converts the xylo-oligosaccharides produced by endo-1,4-beta-xylanase into xylose monomers. The beta-xylosidase from the thermophilic Geobacillus thermoleovorans IT-08, a member of glycoside hydrolase family 43, was crystallized at room temperature using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Two crystal forms were observed. Bipyramid-shaped crystals belonging to space group P4(3)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 62.53, c = 277.4 angstrom diffracted to 1.55 angstrom resolution. The rectangular crystals belonged to space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 57.94, b = 142.1, c = 153.9 angstrom, beta = 90.5 degrees, and diffracted to 1.80 angstrom resolution.