A mannanase that has left the fold

摘要

Mannans are polysaccharides present within the plant cell wall and endosperm. Their degradation is catalysed by β-1,4-mannanases and assorted auxiliary enzymes, which act in concert to liberate D-mannose. β-Mannanases are of growing industrial significance in the food, detergent and biofuels industries, which process β-mannan-rich plant material, and in the oil and gas industry, which deploys β-1,4-mannans to modulate fluid rheology in the fracking process.