Trp17 and Glu20 residues in conserved WMN(D/E)PN motif are essential for Aspergillus ficuum endoinulinase (EC 3.2.1.7) activity.

The importance of the WMN(D/E)PN motif, which is well conserved among beta-fructofuranosidases grouped in the glycosylhydrolase family 32, in Aspergillus ficuum endoinulinase was accessed. Each mutant enzyme generated by site-directed mutagenesis of Trp17 in the conserved motif to Gln, Leu, Ser, Pro, Thr, or Met had an activity of less than 1% of the wild type. Another mutant enzyme obtained by mutation of Glu20 in the motif to Ser, Leu, Thr, Gln, Ala, or Val had an enzyme activity of less than 1% of the wild type. Furthermore, the E20D mutant enzyme, in which Glu20 in the conserved motif was replaced with Asp, had 1.1% of the wild type activity. These results clearly indicated that Trp17 and Glu20 are essential for the enzyme activity.