InterPro domain: IPR012878

One member of this family, from Bidobacterium longicum, UniProtKB: E8MGH8 , has been characterised as an unusual beta-L-arabinofuranosidase enzyme ( 3.2.1.185 ). It releases l-arabinose from the l-arabinofuranose (Araf)-beta1,2-Araf disaccharide and also transglycosylates 1-alkanols with retention of the anomeric configuration. Terminal beta-l-arabinofuranosyl residues have been found in arabinogalactan proteins from a number of different plant species. Beta-l-Arabinofuranosyl linkages with 1-4 arabinofuranosides are also found in the sugar chains of extensin and solanaceous lectins, hydroxyproline (Hyp)2-rich glycoproteins that are widely observed in plant cell wall fractions. The critical residue for catalytic activity is Glu-338, in a ET/SCAS sequence context [ 1 ].

1. Characterization of a novel β-L-arabinofuranosidase in Bifidobacterium longum: functional elucidation of a DUF1680 protein family member. J. Biol. Chem. 289, 5240-9