Glycosynthase-Mediated Assembly of Xylanase Substrates and Inhibitors

An exo‐β‐xylosidase mutant with glycosynthase activity was created to aid in the synthesis of xylanase substrates and inhibitors. Simple monosaccharides were easily elaborated into di‐, tri‐ and tetrasaccharides by using this enzyme. Some products proved to be surprisingly potent inhibitors of xylanases from glycoside hydrolase families 10 and 11. Assembly by synthase: An exo‐β‐xylosidase mutant with glycosynthase activity greatly simplifies the synthesis of xylanase substrates and inhibitors (see scheme). Some of these glycosynthase products were found to be the most potent competitive inhibitors of glycoside hydrolase family 10 and 11 xylanases reported to date.