Recombinant expression and characterization of a reducing-end xylose-releasing exo-oligoxylanase from Bifidobacterium adolescentis

The family 8 glycoside hydrolase (RexA) from Bifidobacterium adolescentis was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme was characterized as a reducing-end xylose-releasing exo-oligoxylanase. Apart from giving insights into this new class of enzymes, knowledge of the RexA enzyme helps to postulate a mechanism for the B. adolescentis breakdown of prebiotic xylooligosaccharides.