Endo-1,4-beta-xylanase B (Lactobacillus brevis) (XynB)

Endo-1,4-beta-xylanase B (XynB) is a glycosyl hydrolase enzyme produced by the Gram-positive bacterium Lactobacillus brevis, which has been reclassified as Levilactobacillus brevis [UniProt Q8G9G8, Zheng et al., 2020]. This enzyme specifically catalyzes the endohydrolysis of 1,4-beta-D-xylosidic linkages in xylan, a major structural component of plant hemicellulose [BRENDA EC 3.2.1.8]. By breaking down complex polysaccharides into smaller xylo-oligosaccharides, XynB enables the bacterium to utilize plant-derived carbohydrates as an energy source. Although it is not a traditional therapeutic target for human drug development, xylanases are widely used in industrial biotechnology for applications such as animal feed enhancement, bread making, and pulp bleaching [PubMed: 12135578]. In the context of human health, these enzymes are sometimes explored for their potential as digestive aids or for their role in the production of prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharides within the gut microbiome. There are currently no pharmaceutical drugs that target or utilize this specific enzyme for treating human diseases. Safety concerns are primarily related to potential respiratory sensitization in industrial workers handling the enzyme in bulk.

Other names

1,4-beta-D-xylan xylanohydrolaseEndo-1,4-beta-D-xylanaseXylanase BLevilactobacillus brevis xylanase B

Endohydrolysis of (1->4)-beta-D-xylosidic linkages in xylans