Comment on "The first description of an archaeal hemicellulase: the xylanase from Thermococcus zilligii strain AN1": evidence that the unique N-terminal sequence proposed comes from a maltodextrin phosphorylase.

Uhl and Daniel reported in this journal in 1999 (Extremophiles 3:263-267) the characterization of the first archaeal hemicellulase with a unique N-terminal sequence showing no homology with any xylanase or other protein from the databases. A genomic library of the chromosomal DNA of Thermococcus zilligii strain AN1 was screened by using a degenerate probe deduced from the N-terminal sequence. A positive clone was identified, and an amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the N-terminal sequence from this protein and the N-terminal sequence from the putative xylanase of T.