Functional diversity and molecular evolution of glycosidases active on beta-N-acetylgalactosamine

Glycans are widely distributed in nature as glycoconjugates, and glycoside hydrolases involved in the utilization and regulation of glycans. Here, to get an extended view of beta-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (beta-NGA), we conducted a sequence-based screening of beta-NGA using deep-sea metagenomes. The deep-sea environment has not yet been well explored due to the limited accessibility for sampling, therefore, is one of the frontiers for the investigation of undiscovered enzymes.