Bacteria encode for proteins known as _________ that can break specific bonds present within glycans.

Bacteria encode for proteins known as _________ that can break specific bonds present within glycans.

• A. Glycosidases
• B. Proteases
• C. Ligases
• D. Nucleases

Answer: (A)

Glycosidases are enzymes that cleave glycosidic bonds linking sugar units in glycans. In bacteria, these enzymes allow breakdown of complex carbohydrates in the oral environment or host mucins, freeing monosaccharides that the microbes can use for energy and growth. Because glycans are made of sugar chains connected by glycosidic linkages, the protein class that specifically acts on those bonds is glycosidases. Other enzyme types break different kinds of bonds—proteases cut peptide bonds in proteins, ligases form bonds between molecules, and nucleases cut nucleic acids—so they don’t target the bonds found in glycans. Thus, glycosidases are the best fit for breaking bonds within glycans.

Glycosidases are enzymes that cleave glycosidic bonds linking sugar units in glycans. In bacteria, these enzymes allow breakdown of complex carbohydrates in the oral environment or host mucins, freeing monosaccharides that the microbes can use for energy and growth. Because glycans are made of sugar chains connected by glycosidic linkages, the protein class that specifically acts on those bonds is glycosidases. Other enzyme types break different kinds of bonds—proteases cut peptide bonds in proteins, ligases form bonds between molecules, and nucleases cut nucleic acids—so they don’t target the bonds found in glycans. Thus, glycosidases are the best fit for breaking bonds within glycans.