Xylose reductases catalyse the reduction of xylose to xylitol, the initial reaction in the fungal D-xylose degradation pathway. Most of the enzymes exhibit a strict requirement for NADPH [cf. EC 1.1.1.431, D-xylose reductase (NADPH)]. However, a few D-xylose reductases, such as those from Neurospora crassa [5], Yamadazyma tenuis [2,3], Scheffersomyces stipitis [1], and the thermophilic fungus Chaetomium thermophilum [4,7], have dual cosubstrate specificity, though they still prefer NADPH to NADH. Very rarely the enzyme prefers NADH [cf. EC 1.1.1.430, D-xylose reductase (NADH)].
NAD(P)H-dependent aldose reductase from the xylose-assimilating yeast Candida tenuis. Isolation, characterization and biochemical properties of the enzyme.
Hakulinen N, Turunen O, Janis J, Leisola M, Rouvinen J.
Title
Three-dimensional structures of thermophilic beta-1,4-xylanases from Chaetomium thermophilum and Nonomuraea flexuosa. Comparison of twelve xylanases in relation to their thermal stability.
Xylose reductase from the thermophilic fungus Talaromyces emersonii: cloning and heterologous expression of the native gene (Texr) and a double mutant (TexrK271R + N273D) with altered coenzyme specificity.