Cellulasejen

Cellulasejen are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of cellulose, the main structural component of plant cell walls. They belong to glycoside hydrolases and act on β-1,4-glycosidic bonds in cellulose to release soluble sugars such as glucose and cellobiose. A typical cellulolytic system includes endoglucanases, which cleave internal bonds; exoglucanases (cellobiohydrolases), which remove cellobiose units from chain ends; and β-glucosidases, which convert cellobiose to glucose. Many cellulases also feature cellulose-binding modules that help them attach to insoluble cellulose.

Cellulases are produced by a wide range of organisms, especially fungi and bacteria, and play a crucial role in natural biomass deconstruction and the global carbon cycle. In industry, they are produced by microbial fermentation and formulated as enzyme cocktails tailored to specific substrates and processes. The enzymes work synergistically, often with auxiliary enzymes such as xylanases, to improve overall cellulose breakdown.

Industrial applications include converting lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars for biofuel production, improving digestibility of animal feeds, and various processes in the pulp and paper, textile, and detergent industries. In biofuel contexts, cellulases enable the conversion of agricultural residues and dedicated energy crops into sugars that can be fermented to ethanol or other biofuels.

Performance depends on factors such as pH, temperature, substrate accessibility, and inhibitors from lignin or product sugars. Industrial cellulases are frequently engineered for greater thermostability, tolerance to inhibitors, and activity on diverse cellulose substrates.