Structural and functional studies were conducted of the glucuronoyl esterase (GE) from
Cerrena unicolor (Cu GE), an enzyme catalyzing cleavage of lignin-carbohydrate ester
bonds. Cu GE is an α/β-hydrolase belonging to carbohydrate esterase family 15 (CE15). The
enzyme is modular, comprised of a catalytic and a carbohydrate-binding domain. SAXS data
show Cu GE as an elongated rigid molecule where the two domains are connected by a
rigid linker. Detailed structural information of the catalytic domain in its apo-and inactivated …