Rhamnogalacturonan acetylesterase elucidates the structure and function of a new family of hydrolases.
Molgaard, A., Kauppinen, S., Larsen, S.(2000) Structure 8: 373-383
- PubMed: 10801485 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0969-2126(00)00118-0
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1DEO, 1DEX - PubMed Abstract: 
The complex polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan constitutes a major part of the hairy region of pectin. It can have different types of carbohydrate sidechains attached to the rhamnose residues in the backbone of alternating rhamnose and galacturonic acid residues; the galacturonic acid residues can be methylated or acetylated. Aspergillus aculeatus produces enzymes that are able to perform a synergistic degradation of rhamnogalacturonan. The deacetylation of the backbone by rhamnogalacturonan acetylesterase (RGAE) is an essential prerequisite for the subsequent action of the enzymes that cleave the glycosidic bonds.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Centre for Crystallographic Studies, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-2100, Denmark.