What is the molecular basis of a carbohydrate molecule that provides catalytic activity?
Yes, there are some reports about carbohydrates acting as catalytic molecule. Cyclodextrins has been reported to have the ability to bind small molecules and catalyze assorted chemical reactions. The 3D structure of cyclodextrins showed shapes like lamp shades and contain a hydrophobic cavity that can form inclusion
complexes with guest molecules. Beta-Cyclodextrin hydrolyzes the
b-lactam ring of penicillins and thereby inactivate the antibiotic under alkaline conditions.
Please refer the following article:
Extremophiles (2007) 11:133–143
As far as I know only proteins and RNA ( ribozyme) have enzymatic acitivity. I do not think that carbohydrates have any enzymatic activity.
you can enter the name of particular carbohydrate in STRING database where the homologs could be found to easily and then you can make an idea about its catalytic activity by comparing with others
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