A single mutation reforms the binding activity of an adhesion-deficient family 3 carbohydrate-binding module

Crystal structures of the family 3b carbohydrate-binding module (CBM3b) of the cellulosomal multimodular hydrolytic enzyme cellobiohydrolase 9A (Cbh9A) from C. thermocellum and of its mutant Cbh9A CBM3b^N126W have been determined at 2.20 and 1.04 Å resolution, respectively. This mutation reforms the cellulose-binding properties of the adhesion-deficient CBM.