An .alpha.-L-arabinofuranosidase enzyme which is highly thermostable, and is effective for the hydrolysis of arabinofuranosyl residues from L-arabinose containing polysaccharides and hemicelluloses is disclosed. The enzyme is produced by color variant Aureobasidium pullulans strain NRRL Y-21792. This .alpha.-L-arabinofuranosidase may be used in conjunction with xylanolytic enzymes for the treatment of hemicellulosic materials to produce fermentable sugars, particularly xylose and L-arabinose.
Described herein are four phenolic acid esterases, three of which correspond to domains of previously unknown function within bacterial xylanases, from XynY and XynZ of Clostridium thermocellum and from a xylanase of Ruminococcus. The fourth specifically exemplified xylanase is a protein encoded within the genome of Orpinomyces PC-2. The amino acids of these polypeptides and nucleotide sequences encoding them are provided. Recombinant host cells, expression vectors and methods for the recombinant production of phenolic acid esterases are also provided.
Described herein are four phenolic acid esterases, three of which correspond to domains of previously unknown function within bacterial xylanases, from XynY and XynZ of Clostridium thermocellum and from a feruloyl esterase of Ruminococcus. The fourth specifically exemplified phenolic acid esterase is a protein encoded within the genome of Orpinomyces PC-2. The amino acids of these polypeptides and nucleotide sequences encoding them are provided. Recombinant host cells, expression vectors and methods for the recombinant production of phenolic acid esterases are also provided. Further provided are methods for improving nutrient availability and ferulic acid availability when food or feed, or other material is treated with a phenolic acid esterase, desirably in combination with a xylanase.
