Glycoside hydrolase family 7

In molecular biology, glycoside hydrolase family 7 is a family of glycoside hydrolases , which are a widespread group of enzymes that hydrolyse the glycosidic bond between two or more carbohydrates, or between a carbohydrate and a non-carbohydrate moiety. A classification system for glycoside hydrolases, based on sequence similarity, has led to the definition of 100 different families. This classification is available on the CAZy web site, and also discussed at CAZypedia, an online encyclopedia of carbohydrate active enzymes.

Glycoside hydrolase family 7 CAZY GH_7 comprises enzymes with several known activities including endoglucanase () and cellobiohydrolase (). These enzymes were formerly known as cellulase family C.

Exoglucanases and cellobiohydrolases play a role in the conversion of cellulose to glucose by cutting the disaccharide cellobiose from the non-reducing end of the cellulose polymer chain. Structurally, cellulases and xylanases frequently consist of a catalytic domain joined to a cellulose-binding domain (CBD) via a linker region that is rich in proline and/or hydroxy-amino acids. In type I exoglucanases, the CBD domain is found at the C-terminal extremity of these enzyme (this short domain forms a hairpin loop structure stabilised by 2 disulphide bridges).