cellobiosin

Cellobiosin is a disaccharide that results from the hydrolysis of cellulose. It is composed of two glucose units linked by a beta-1,4 glycosidic bond. Cellobiosin is an intermediate product in the enzymatic breakdown of cellulose by cellulases. While cellulose is a polymer of many glucose units, cellobiosin represents a repeating unit within that structure.

The hydrolysis of cellulose can yield various oligosaccharides, and cellobiosin is a significant one. Enzymes that break down cellulose, such as endoglucanases and exoglucanases, act on the long cellulose chains. Endoglucanases cleave internal beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds, producing shorter chains and potentially cellobiosin. Exoglucanases, on the other hand, typically cleave from the ends of the cellulose chains, also releasing cellobiose. Cellobiosin is essentially another name for cellobiose, referring to this disaccharide unit derived from cellulose.

Cellobiose can be further broken down into two molecules of glucose by the enzyme beta-glucosidase. This complete breakdown of cellulose into glucose is crucial for the metabolism of cellulose by various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and some insects. The study of cellobiosin and its formation is important in understanding carbohydrate metabolism and in biotechnological applications involving cellulose degradation, such as in the production of biofuels.