How the walls come crumbling down: recent structural biochemistry of plant polysaccharide degradation

The recent years have witnessed considerable developments in the interpretation of the three-dimensional structures of plant polysaccharide-degrading enzymes in the context of their functional specificity. A plethora of new structures of catalytic, carbohydrate-binding and protein-scaffolding modules involved in (hemi)cellulose catabolism has emerged in harness with sophisticated biochemical analysis. Despite significant advances, a full understanding of the intricacies of substrate recognition and catalysis by these diverse and specialised enzymes remains an important goal, especially if the application potential of these biocatalysts is to be fully realised.