Abstract: β-1, 3-glucanases are widespread throughout bacteria, fungi, plants and invertebrates. They play various physiological roles due to the diversity of origin, such as participating in plant growth and development, defending against pathogens in plant, providing nutrients for bacteria, regulating fungal cell wall stability and rigidity, and involving in the release and invasion of virus.The research of enzyme structure is the basis to explore the mechanism of enzyme catalyzed reaction, to characterize enzyme catalytic properties and to design and transform the enzyme.The structure and catalytic mechanism of GH16 bacterial β-1, 3-glucanase were thoroughly reviewed.By comparing with the structure of GH17 plant β-1, 3-glucanases, this study was attempted to reveal how bacterial β-1, 3-glucanases hydrolyze polysaccharide, and provides an important reference for further modification and utilization of bacterial β-1, 3-glucanases in plant protection, food and pharmaceutical fields.