Galacto-N-biose/lacto-N-biose phosphorylase (GLNBP) is a key enzyme for intestinal growth of human health-promoting commensal bacteria, Bifidobacteria, by metabolizing milk oligosaccharides. GLNBP catalyzes the phosphorolysis of lacto-N-biose (Gal-β1,3-GlcNAc) into α-D-galactose phosphate and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). On the substrate binding, this enzyme is thought to take at least three conformations (Open, Semiclosed, and Closed states).
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For details of this research, see our article on JBC.
Hidaka et al., J. Biol. Chem. 284 (11), 7273-7283 (2009)
For details of the unique sugar metabolic pathways, see this review.
Fushinobu, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 74 (12), 2374-2384 (2010)
M. Hidaka, T. Wakagi, H. Shoun, and S. Fushinobu