The role of the glucuronoxylan carboxyl groups in the action of endoxylanases of three glycoside hydrolase families: A study with two substrate mutants.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial appendage-dependent GH30 glucuronoxylan hydrolases recognize the substrate through an ionic interaction of a conserved positively charged arginine with the carboxyl group of 4-O-methyl-d-glucuronic acid. One of the options to verify this interaction is preparation of enzyme mutants. An alternative approach is a chemical modification of the substrate, glucuronoxylan, in which the free carboxyl group in all residues of MeGlcA is eliminated. METHODS: In this work the carboxyl groups of 4-O-methyl-d-glucuronic acid residues of an alkali extracted beechwood xylan were esterified with methanol. A water-soluble fraction of the polysaccharide methyl ester was converted by NaBH4 reduction to the second soluble derivative, 4-O-methylglucoxylan. Specific activities of several endoxylanases (EXs) of GH families 10, 11 and 30 were determined on glucuronoxylan, and its two new uncharged derivatives. RESULTS: Elimination of the free carboxyl group from the polysaccharide did not influence activities of GH10 EXs, but resulted in 50% decrease of specific activity of GH11 EXs, and led to more than 300-fold reduction of specific activity of Erwinia chrysanthemi GH30 xylanase. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the crucial role of the interactions between GH30 xylanases and the MeGlcA carboxyl group for efficient cleavage of the polysaccharide. Analysis of the hydrolysis products by TLC and MS confirmed that all three types of xylanases hydrolyzed uncharged glucuronoxylans similarly as the original one. SIGNIFICANCE: The uncharged glucuronoxylan derivatives will be useful to differentiate GH30 xylanases with various degree of selectivity for glucuronoxylan, including fungal enzymes without the conserved arginine.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the glucuronoyl esterase catalytic domain from Hypocrea jecorina.

The catalytic domain of the glucuronoyl esterase from Hypocrea jecorina (anamorph Trichoderma reesei) was overexpresssed, purified and crystallized by the sitting-drop vapor-diffusion method using 1.4 M sodium/potassium phosphate pH 6.9. The crystals belonged to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) and X-ray diffraction data were collected to 1.9 A resolution. This is the first enzyme with glucoronoyl esterase activity to be crystallized; its structure will be valuable in lignocellulose-degradation research.

Beta-Xylosidases and a nonspecific wall-bound beta-glucosidase of the yeast Cryptococcus albidus.

Cryptococcus albidus grown on wood xylans possesses a soluble intracellular beta-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) as an additional constituent of the xylan-degrading enzyme system of this yeast. The enzyme attacks linear 1,4-beta-xylooligosaccharides in an exo-fashion, liberating xylose from the non-reducing ends. The activity of the enzyme increases in the cells during growth on xylan and incubation with xylobiose or methyl beta-D-xylopyranoside which are the best inducers of extracellular beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8). Various alkyl-,alkyl-1-thio- and aryl beta-D-xylopyranosides were excellent inducers of a different beta-xylosidase of Cryptococcus albidus. This enzyme is localized outside the plasma membrane and is principally associated with cell walls. Unlike the soluble intracellular beta-xylosidase, the wall-bound enzyme does not hydrolyze xylooligosaccharides. Evidence has been obtained that beta-xylosidase activity in the cell walls is not due to the presence of a specific aryl beta-xylosidase, but is exhibited by a nonspecific beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) inducible by beta-D-xylopyranosides. The ratio of beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase activity in the cells and isolated cell walls from yeast induced by various beta-xylopyranosides and beta-glucopyranosides was very similar. Both wall-bound activities were inhibited in a similar pattern by inhibitors of beta-glucosidases, 1,5-gluconolactone and nojirimycin. This bifunctional enzyme does not bear any relationship to the utilization of xylans in Cryptococcus albidus.

Wall mannan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Metabolic stability and release into growth medium.

Selective labelling of cell wall mannan with radioactive precursors in growing Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed that this polysaccharide is metabolically stable during exponential growth. Mannan once inserted into the wall is not subject to turnover or release into the growth medium. However, about 10% of the amount of mannan incorporated into the cell wall fraction can be recovered in the non-dialyzable material isolated from the growth medium. Therefore, the mannan escaping from the cell must be either a mannan de novo synthesized, not trapped in the growing wall structure, or a mannan with a non-structural role. Radioactivity was also retained in the wall fraction of cells pre-labelled with [14C] glucose which pointed to metabolic stability of all cell wall polysaccharides in growing S. cerevisiae.

Inverting character of alpha-glucuronidase A from Aspergillus tubingensis.

Alpha-glucuronidase A from Aspergillus tubingensis was found to be capable of liberating 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid (MeGlcA) only from those beechwood glucuronoxylan fragments in which the acid is attached to the non-reducing terminal xylopyranosyl residue. Reduced aldotetrauronic acid, 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronosyl-alpha-1,2-D-xylopyranosyl-beta-1,4-xylopyranosyl-beta-1,4-xylitol, was found to be a suitable substrate to follow the stereochemical course of the hydrolytic reaction catalyzed by the purified enzyme. The configuration of the liberated MeGlcA was followed in a D(2)O reaction mixture by (1)H-NMR spectroscopy. It was unambiguously established that MeGlcA was released from the substrate as its beta-anomer from which the alpha-anomer was formed on mutarotation. This result represents the first experimental evidence for the inverting character of a microbial alpha-glucuronidase, a member of glycosyl hydrolase family 67 (EC 3.1.1.139).

The active site of an acidic endo-1,4-beta-xylanase of Aspergillus niger.

The substrate binding site of an acidic endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (1,4-beta-D-xylan xylanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.8) of Aspergillus niger was investigated using 1,4-beta-xylooligosaccharides (1-3H)-labelled at the reducing end. Bond cleavage frequencies and V/Km parameters of the oligosaccharides were determined under conditions of unimolecular hydrolysis and, according to the method of Suganuma et al. (J. Biochem. (Tokyo) (1978) 84, 293-316), used for evaluation of subsite affinities. The substrate binding site of the enzyme was found to consist of seven subsites, numbered -IV, -III, -II, -I, I, II and III, towards the subsite binding the reducing end unit of xyloheptaose. The catalytic groups were localized between subsites -I and I, the affinities of which have not been determined. All other subsites showed positive values of affinities for binding xylosyl residues. The values decrease from subsites -II and II, similarly in both directions. As a consequence of such an almost symmetric distribution of affinities around the catalytic groups, the enzyme cleaves preferentially the bonds in the oligosaccharides which are most distant from both terminals. Thus, the acidic A. niger beta-xylanase appears to be an endo-1,4-beta-xylanase attacking polymeric substrates in a random fashion. This conclusion was supported by viscosimetric measurements with carboxymethylxylan as a substrate.

Mode of action of three endo-beta-1,4-xylanases of Streptomyces lividans.

The mode of action of three genetically distinct endo-beta-1,4-xylanases (EXs) of Streptomyces lividans, XlnA, XlnB and XlnC, belonging to two different xylanase families, was investigated on a variety of polysaccharide and oligosaccharide substrates. Viscosimetric measurements showed that all three enzymes have about the same endo-acting character. Occurrence of multiple pathways of substrate degradation at high concentration of beta-1,4-xylooligosaccharides suggested that all three enzymes were retaining glycanases. The enzymes differed considerably in their mode of action on various heteroxylans and on rhodymenan. XlnA hydrolyzed all tested polysaccharides to a higher degree than XlnB or XlnC, through liberation of smaller hydrolysis products, both linear or branched. XlnA performed much better than XlnB or XlnC, particularly on acetylxylan, liberating large amounts of short acetylated and non-acetylated fragments. XlnB and XlnC liberated from acetylxylan only limited amounts of larger acetylated fragments. XlnA exhibited also much higher catalytic efficiency than the other two EXs on short beta-1,4-xylooligosaccharides. The kinetic parameters and bond-cleavage frequencies determined for xylotriose, xylotetraose and xylopentaose using 1-3H-reducing-end-labelled compounds suggested that the substrate binding site of XlnA is smaller and differently organized than those in XlnB or XlnC. In contrast to XlnB and XlnC, XlnA also exhibited significant aryl-beta-xylosidase activity. No distinctive catalytic properties of either XlnB or XlnC were found which were not inherent also to XlnA. High-molecular-mass EXs of the XlnA type show much greater catalytic versatility due than low-molecular-mass EXs of the XlnB or XlnC type.

Substrate specificity of acetylxylan esterase from Schizophyllum commune: mode of action on acetylated carbohydrates.

Substrate specificity of a purified acetylxylan esterase from Schizophyllum commune was investigated on a variety of methyl per-O-acetyl glycopyranosides, methyl di-O-acetyl-beta-D-xylopyranosides and acetylated polysaccharides. The enzyme preferentially deacetylated the 3-position of methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside. Removal of the 3-acetyl group from the xylopyranoside was accompanied by a slower deacetylation at positions 2 and 4. A similarly slower, accompanying deacetylation occurred primarily at position 2 with the glucopyranoside. Such specificity corresponds well to the expected function of the esterase in acetylxylan degradation. Of the three possible diacetates of methyl beta-D-xylopyranoside, the 3,4-diacetate was found to be the most rapidly deacetylated. Unexpectedly, products of its deacetylation were a mixture of 2- and 4-monoacetate. The formation of the methyl 2-O-acetyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside involved an enzyme-mediated acetyl group transfer because the rate of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction exceeded the rate of spontaneous migration of acetyl groups. This is the likely mechanism for acetyl removal from position 2 in the native substrate. The enzyme exhibited the highest regioselectivity with methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-mannopyranoside. An 80% conversion of this substrate to methyl 4,6-di-O-acetyl-beta-D-mannopyranoside, a new mannose derivative, was achieved. In contrast to the majority of lipases and esterases exploited for regioselective deacetylation, the S. commune acetylxylan esterase did not attack the C-6 acetyl linkages in methyl hexopyranosides when other acetyl groups were available.

Purification and characterization of alpha-galactosidase from a thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus.

An extracellular alpha-galactosidase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from a locust bean gum-spent culture fluid of a mannanolytic strain of the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus. Molecular mass of the enzyme is 57 kDa. The pure enzyme which has a glycoprotein nature, afforded several forms on IEF, indicating its microheterogeneity. Isoelectric point of the major form was 5.2. Enzyme is the most active against aryl alpha-D-galactosides but efficiently hydrolyzed alpha-glycosidically linked non-reducing terminal galactopyranosyl residues occurring in natural substrates such as melibiose, raffinose, stachyose, and fragments of galactomannan. In addition, the enzyme is able to catalyze efficient degalactosylation of polymeric galactomannans leading to precipitation of the polymers. Stereochemical course of hydrolysis of two substrates, 4-nitrophenyl alpha-galactopyranoside and galactosyl(1)mannotriose, followed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, pointed out the alpha-anomer of D-galactose was the primary product of hydrolysis from which the beta-anomer was formed by mutarotation. Hence the enzyme is a retaining glycosyl hydrolase. In accord with its retaining character the enzyme catalyzed transgalactosylation from 4-nitrophenyl alpha-galactopyranoside as a glycosyl donor. Amino acid sequence alignment of N-terminal and two internal sequences suggested that the enzyme is a member of family 27 of glycosyl hydrolases.

Reaction pathways of substrate degradation by an acidic endo-1,4-beta-xylanase of Aspergillus niger.

An acidic endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (1,4-beta-D-xylan xylanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.8) of Aspergillus niger catalyzes degradation of linear 1,4-beta-xylooligosaccharides by multiple reaction pathways analogous to those catalyzed by lysozyme and alpha-amylases. Quantitative product analysis of enzyme-substrate mixtures using 1-3H-reducing end-labeled xylooligosaccharides and [U-14C]xylotriose led to the following conclusions: (1) bond cleavage frequencies of xylotriose, xylotetraose and xylopentaose are strongly dependent on substrate concentration; (2) at relatively low concentration of the oligosaccharides the enzyme catalyzes transglycosylic reactions leading to products larger than the substrates; (3) xylobiose and to a low extent also xylose, are utilized as glycosyl acceptors in the transfer reactions; (4) the enzyme-glycosyl intermediates effective in the transfer reactions are formed only from the non-reducing part of oligosaccharides, since no evidence was obtained for condensation of two molecules of oligosaccharides; (5) the enzyme does not catalyze degradation of xylobiose and aryl beta-xylosides at an appreciable rate.

Uridine diphosphate 2-deoxyglucose. Chemical synthesis, enzymic oxidation and epimerization.

The paper describes chemical synthesis of uridine diphosphate 2-deocyglucose (UDPdGLc) through reaction of uridine 5'-phosphomorpholidate with 2-deoxy-a-D-glucopyranosyl phosphate. The prepared analog of uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPGlc) served as a substrate for calf liver UDPGlc dehydrogenases (EC 1.1.1.22), the reaction product was identified as nucleotide deoxyhexuronic acid derivative. The apparent Km for UDPdGlc was found to be 60 times that of UDPGlc, and the relative V value for the analog was 0.09. The peculiar lag-eriod in reaction kinetics has been observed for the analog and is presumably connected with the slow rate of the initial stages of the reaction. UDPdGlc was found to be quite an efficient substrate for UDPGlc 4-epimerases (EC 5.13.2) from yeast, calf liver and mung bean seedlings.

Analysis of DNA flanking the xlnB locus of Streptomyces lividans reveals genes encoding acetyl xylan esterase and the RNA component of ribonuclease P.

Nucleotide sequencing revealed the gene (axeA) encoding acetyl xylan esterase (AxeA) downstream from xlnB in the Streptomyces lividans DNA insert of plasmid pIAF42. AxeA consists of a catalytic- and a substrate-binding domain separated by a Gly-rich linker. The N terminus showed no significant homology with published esterases and acetyl xylan esterases, but some homology was found with the xylanases XylA and XylD and the NodB protein of Rhizobium species which is involved in the biosynthesis of root nodulation factors. The C terminus of AxeA is highly homologous to the C-termini of xylanases XlnB and TFXA, corresponding to the xylan-binding domain of these enzymes. Furthermore, the RNaseP RNA component was found immediately upstream from xlnB gene.

Glycosidic bond rearrangements in isomeric xylobioses by yeast xylan-degrading enzymes.

The cells of Cryptococcus albidus induced for xylan-degrading enzymes are capable of transforming 1,2-beta-xylobiose and 1,3-beta-xylobiose into 1,4-beta-xylobiose, the natural inducer. The conversion involves transglycosylation and hydrolysis catalyzed by beta-xylosidase and beta-xylanase. A probable intermediate of the conversion of 1,2-beta-xylobiose was isolated and identified as a trisaccharide, 4-O-beta-xylopyranosyl-2-O-beta-xylopyranosyl-D-xylopyran ose. The trisaccharide is cleaved by purified endo-1,4-beta-xylanase of C. albidus mainly at the 1,2-beta-linkage yielding xylose and 1,4-beta-xylobiose.

Stereochemistry of the hydrolysis of glycosidic linkage by endo-beta-1,4-xylanases of Trichoderma reesei.

Methyl beta-D-xylotrioside was used as a non-reducing substrate to investigate the stereochemistry of hydrolysis of beta-1,4-xylopyranosidic linkage by purified endo-beta-1,4-xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8) of Trichoderma reesei, employing 1H NMR spectroscopy. The fungus produces one acidic species (pI 4.8-5.5), designated as EXI, and one alkaline species (pI 8.5-9.0), designated as EXII. Both enzymes were found to cleave the xylotrioside predominantly to methyl beta-D-xyloside and xylobiose. Monitoring of the intensity of the H-1 signals of alpha- and beta-xylobiose during the time course of hydrolysis clearly showed that both enzymes liberate the beta-anomer of xylobiose, i.e. a product with anomeric configuration identical with that of the cleaved glycosidic linkage. This means that both EXI and EXII belong to the so-called retaining glycanases that utilize the double displacement reaction mechanism of hydrolysis.

Inversion of configuration during hydrolysis of alpha-1,4-galacturonidic linkage by three Aspergillus polygalacturonases.

Endopolygalacturonases I and II (PGI and PGII) of Aspergillus niger and an exopolygalacturonase (ExoPG) of A. tubingensis were investigated to reveal the stereochemistry of their hydrolytic action. Reduced pentagalacturonic acid (pentaGalU-ol) and reduced trigalacturonic acid (triGalU-ol) were used as non-reducing substrates for the enzymes. The configuration of the reducing ends in the products formed in D2O reaction mixtures was followed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. It has been unambiguously established that primary cleavage of pentaGalU-ol by both PGI and PGII leads to diGalU-ol and the beta-anomer of triGalUA. The primary products of hydrolysis of triGalUA-ol by ExoPG were diGal-ol and the beta-anomer of GalUA. Thus, all three Aspergillus polygalacturonases belong to the so-called inverting glycanases, i.e. they utilize the single displacement mechanism of hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkage.

Substrate specificity and mode of action of acetylxylan esterase from Streptomyces lividans.

The substrate specificity of purified acetylxylan esterase (AcXE) from Streptomyces lividans was investigated on partially and fully acetylated methyl glycopyranosides. The enzyme exhibited deacetylation regioselectivity on model compounds which provided insights pertaining to its function in acetylxylan degradation. The enzyme catalyzed double deacetylation of methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside and methyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside at positions 2 and 3. Two methyl xylopyranoside diacetates, which had a free hydroxyl group at position 2 or 3, i.e. the derivatives that most closely mimic monoacetylated xylopyranosyl residues in acetylxylan, were deacetylated 1 to 2 orders of magnitude faster than methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside and methyl 2,3-di-O-acetyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside. These observations explain the double deacetylation. The second acetyl group is released immediately after the first one is removed from the fully acetylated methyl beta-D-xylo- and -glucopyranoside. The results suggest that in acetylxylan degradation the enzyme rapidly deacetylates monoacetylated xylopyranosyl residues, but attacks doubly acetylated residues much more slowly. Evidence is also presented that the St. lividans enzyme could be the first real substrate-specific AcXE.

Action of acetylxylan esterase from Trichoderma reesei on acetylated methyl glycosides.

Substrate specificity of purified acetylxylan esterase (AcXE) from Trichoderma reesei was investigated on partially and fully acetylated methyl glycopyranosides. Methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside was deacetylated at positions 2 and 3, yielding methyl 4-O-acetyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside in almost 90% yield. Methyl 2,3-di-O-acetyl beta-D-xylopyranoside was deacetylated at a rate similar to the fully acetylated derivative. The other two diacetates (2,4- and 3,4-), which have a free hydroxyl group at either position 3 or 2, were deacetylated one order of magnitude more rapidly. Thus the second acetyl group is rapidly released from position 3 or 2 after the first acetyl group is removed from position 2 or 3. The results strongly imply that in degradation of partially acetylated beta-1,4-linked xylans, the enzyme deacetylates monoacetylated xylopyranosyl residues more readily than di-O-acetylated residues. The T. reesei AcXE attacked acetylated methyl beta-D-glucopyranosides and beta-D-mannopyranosides in a manner similar to the xylopyranosides.

Endo-beta-1,4-xylanase families: differences in catalytic properties.

Microbial endo-beta-1,4-xylanases (EXs, EC 3.2.1.8) belonging to glycanase families 10 (formerly F) and 11 (formerly G) differ in their action on 4-O-methyl-D-glucurono-D-xylan and rhodymenan, a beta-1,3-beta-1,4-xylan. Two high molecular mass EXs (family 10), the Cryptococcus albidus EX and XlnA of Streptomyces lividans, liberate from glucuronoxylan aldotetrauronic acid as the shortest acidic fragment, and from rhodymenan an isomeric xylotriose of the structure Xyl beta 1-3Xyl beta 1-4Xyl as the shortest fragment containing a beta-1,3-linkage. Low molecular mass EXs (family 11), such as the Trichoderma reesei enzymes and XlnB and XlnC of S. lividans, liberate from glucuronoxylan an aldopentauronic acid as the shortest fragment, and from rhodymenan an isomeric xylotetraose as the shortest fragment containing a beta-1,3-linkage. The structure of the oligosaccharides was established by: NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry of per-O-methylated compounds and enzymic hydrolysis by beta-xylosidase and EX, followed by analysis of products by chromatography. The structures of the fragments define in the polysaccharides the linkages attacked and non-attacked by the enzymes. EXs of family 10 require a lower number of unsubstituted consecutive beta-1,4-xylopyranosyl units in the main chain and a lower number of consecutive beta-1,4-xylopyranosyl linkages in rhodymenan than EXs of family 11. These results, together with a greater catalytic versatility of EXs of family 10, suggest that EXs of family 10 have substrate binding sites smaller than those of EXs of family 11. This suggestion is in agreement with the finding that EXs of family 10 show higher affinity for shorter linear beta-1,4-xylooligosaccharides than EXs of family 11. The results are discussed with relevant literature data to understand better the structure-function relationship in this group of glycanases.

Effects of purified endo-beta-1,4-xylanases of family 10 and 11 and acetyl xylan esterases on eucalypt sulfite dissolving pulp.

Sulfite dissolving pulp from Eucalyptus grandis contained approximately 3.8% O-acetyl-4-O-methylglucuronoxylan with a molar ratio of xylose:4-O-methylglucuronic acid:acetyl group close to 13.6:1:6.2. The effects produced by purified endo-xylanases from two different glycosyl hydrolase families (family 10 and 11) as well as acetyl xylan esterases were examined and assessed on pulp in relation to their bleaching abilities. The purified endo-xylanases hydrolyzed only a limited portion (less than 30%) of the acetylglucuronoxylan present in the pulp. The enzymes of family 10 produced acetylated xylobiose and xylotriose whereas acetylated xylobiose was not observed among the products released from the pulp by the family 11 xylanases. The esterases however were not capable of deacetylating the acetylated aldouronic acids generated by the xylanases. Regardless of the different mode of action of the endo-xylanases on dissolving pulp, their effect on pulp bleaching was not related to the amount and nature of sugars generated or the glycosyl hydrolase family. No additional brightness gain was obtained when endo-xylanases were used in conjunction with acetyl xylan esterases, suggesting that the latter do not play an important role in biobleaching of eucalypt sulfite dissolving pulps.

Purification and characterization of a feruloyl esterase from Fusarium oxysporum catalyzing esterification of phenolic acids in ternary water-organic solvent mixtures.

An extracellular feruloyl esterase (FAE-II) from the culture filtrates of Fusarium oxysporum F3 was purified to homogeneity by SP-Sepharose, t-butyl-HIC and Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography. The protein corresponded to molecular mass and pI values of 27 kDa and 9.9, respectively. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 7 and 45 degrees C. The purified esterase was fully stable at pH 7.0-9.0 and temperature up to 45 degrees C after 1 h incubation. Determination of k(cat)/K(m) revealed that the enzyme hydrolysed methyl sinapinate 6, 21 and 40 times more efficiently than methyl ferulate, methyl coumarate and methyl caffeate, respectively. The enzyme was active on substrates containing ferulic acid ester linked to the C-5 but inactive to the C-2 positions of arabinofuranose such as 4-nitrophenyl 5-O-trans-feruloyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside and 4-nitrophenyl 2-O-trans-feruloyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside. In the presence of Sporotrichum thermophile xylanase, there was a significant release of ferulic acid from destarched wheat bran by FAE-II, indicating a synergistic interaction between FAE-II and S. thermophile xylanase. FAE-II by itself could release only little ferulic acid from destarched wheat bran. The potential of FAE-II for the synthesis of various phenolic acid esters was tested using as a reaction system a surfactantless microemulsion formed in ternary mixture consisting of n-hexane, 1-propanol and water.