- Source: Mixed-linkage glucan : Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase
Mixed-linkage glucan : xyloglucan endotransglucosylase (MXE) is a plant cell wall-modifying enzyme found in plants of the genus Equisetum. The enzyme is proposed, in vivo, to catalyse the endotransglucosylation of two different hemicellulose polysaccharides, mixed-linkage glucan and xyloglucan, by effectively 'stitching' them together. However only the 'stitching' of a mixed-linkage glucan polysaccharide to a xyloglucan oligosaccharide has actually been witnessed to date.
Location
The enzyme has only been assayed in a crude cell extract, so its exact location in the plant was not yet determined. But with its two main substrates identified to be hemicelloses, this suggests that the enzyme is expected to be found in the apoplast.
Role in plants
MXE has a role in the strengthening of cell walls which implies its contribution to cessation of growth. This is largely due to the correlation of MXE activity in crude extracts with the age of the cell, crude extracts from older cells exhibit higher MXE activity.