This protein family includes Alginate lyase from the mollusc Aplysia kurodai (AkAly30) and similar proteins from prokaryotes, eukaryotes and some viral species. AkAly30 degrades alginate by cleaving the glycosidic bond through a beta-elimination reaction. This enzyme adopts a beta-jelly roll fold comprising two antiparallel beta- sheets. Some beta strands of the first sheet twist to form an electropositive-rich cavity where the substrates are believed to be located [1-3].

1: Crystal structure of family 14 polysaccharide lyase with pH-dependent modes of action. Ogura K, Yamasaki M, Yamada T, Mikami B, Hashimoto W, Murata K; J Biol Chem. 2009;284:35572-35579. PMID:19846561

2: Structure and Polymannuronate Specificity of a Eukaryotic Member of Polysaccharide Lyase Family 14. Qin HM, Miyakawa T, Inoue A, Nishiyama R, Nakamura A, Asano A, Sawano Y, Ojima T, Tanokura M; J Biol Chem. 2017;292:2182-2190. PMID:28011642

3: Alginate Lyase Aly36B is a New Bacterial Member of the Polysaccharide Lyase Family 36 and Catalyzes by a Novel Mechanism With Lysine as Both the Catalytic Base and Catalytic Acid. Dong F, Xu F, Chen XL, Li PY, Li CY, Li FC, Chen Y, Wang P, Zhang YZ; J Mol Biol. 2019;431:4897-4909. PMID:31682837