Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the catalytic core of acetyl xylan esterase from Trichoderma reesei.

Acetyl xylan esterase is involved in the biodegradation of hemicellulose. It cleaves O-acetyl groups from xylan, which is the most abundant hemicellulose in nature. The catalytic core of acetyl xylan esterase from T. reesei has been crystallized and X-ray diffraction data at 2.3 A collected. The crystal belongs to the triclinic space group P1 with unit-cell parameters a = 50.3, b = 62. 1, c = 40.0 A, alpha = 110.1, beta = 113.6 and gamma = 97.9 degrees. The asymmetric unit contains two molecules.