Institute of Chemistry
Topic
Mannanolytic acetyl esterases
PhD. program
Biochemistry
Name of the supervisor
Mgr. Vladimír Puchart, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Commenius University Bratislava
Annotation
Galactoglucomannan is the most common hemicellulose of softwoods and the second most common hemicellulose of hardwoods. Acetylation of its backbone, which significantly complicates its enzymatic depolymerization, also contributes to the heterogeneity of this polysaccharide. Despite these findings, almost nothing is known about acetylmannanesterases, as only a few have been isolated and even those that have been isolated have not been further characterized. This topic will undoubtedly bring completely new knowledge, which will certainly contribute not only to a better characterization of other mannanolytic enzymes, but also to their wider practical use.
Aims: 1. To study substrate specificity and regiospecificity of various hemicellulolytic as well as non-hemicellulolytic acetyl esterases on acetylated mannans; 2. Looking for new enzymes deesterifying plant mannans; 3. To establish the enzymes’ role in the decomposition of this hemicellulose, in particular taking into account their cooperation with other mannanolytic enzymes
Aims: 1. To study substrate specificity and regiospecificity of various hemicellulolytic as well as non-hemicellulolytic acetyl esterases on acetylated mannans; 2. Looking for new enzymes deesterifying plant mannans; 3. To establish the enzymes’ role in the decomposition of this hemicellulose, in particular taking into account their cooperation with other mannanolytic enzymes