Enzymatic hydrolysis of 7-xylosyltaxanes by an extracellular xylosidase from Cellulosimicrobium cellulans.

Objectives: To find extracellular biocatalysts that can specifically and efficiently remove the C-7 xylosyl group from 7-xylosyltaxanes.

Results: A Cellulosimicrobium cellulans strain F16 that can remove the C-7 xylosyl group from 7-xylosyltaxanes was isolated from the root soil of an old Taxus yunnanensis tree. Using corn cob as sole carbon source, the maximum 7-xylosyl-10-deacetylpaclitaxel β-xylosidase activity of 9.