Phosphorolytic Pathway in Cellulose Degradation

Two intracellular enzymes, cellobiose phosphorylase (CBP) and cellodextrin phosphorylase (CDP) are involved in the phosphorolytic pathway in cellulose degradation. Those enzymes are considered to be useful in syntheses of oligosaccharides because the reactions are reversible. CBP from Cellvibrio gilvus and CDP from Clostridium thermocellum YM-4 were cloned and over-expressed in Escharichia coli. Both the enzyme reactions showed ordered bi bi mechanism. Acceptor specificity of CBP in the reverse reaction was determined. Several $\beta$-l,4-glucosyl disaccharides were synthesized by using the reaction. A new substrate inhibition pattern, competitive substrate inhibition, was also found in the reverse reaction of CBP Cellobiose was produced from sucrose at a high yield by a combined action of three enzymes including CBP