A combined approach for improving alkaline acetyl xylan esterase production in Pichia pastoris, and effects of glycosylation on enzyme secretion, activity and stability

► High level expression of AXE1 in Pichia pastoris was achieved by codon and culture optimization. ► Strategy yielded a 246-fold increase in AXE1 levels compared to levels in Volvariella volvacea. ► N-linked glycosylation played an essential role in AXE1 secretion. ► N-glycosylation played little if any role in the catalytic activity of AXE1 or in enzyme stability.