Structural biology of glucan phosphatases from humans to plants.

•Glucan phosphatase activity is conserved in plants and animals.•Mutations in the human glucan phosphatase laforin result in a fatal disease.•Laforin utilizes glucan-binding platforms in the CBM and DSP domains.•SEX4 employs an integrated CBM–DSP glucan binding channel to dephosphorylate starch.•LSF2 uses surface binding sites and the DSP active site to dephosphorylate starch.