tselluloosse

Tselluloosse is a polymer and the main structural component of the primary cell wall of green plants, some species of algae, and oomycetes. It is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth, making up an estimated 10^12 tons of plant biomass annually. Chemically, cellulose is a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of beta-linked D-glucose units. The beta-1,4 linkage between glucose units is crucial for cellulose's structural properties.

Cellulose is a linear, unbranched polymer. The repeating unit is cellobiose, which is two glucose molecules linked by a beta-1,4 glycosidic bond. The arrangement of these chains forms microfibrils, which are the basic structural units of the plant cell wall. These microfibrils are strong and rigid, providing mechanical support to plant cells and contributing to the overall structure of plants.

Humans cannot digest cellulose because they lack the enzyme cellulase, which is required to break down the beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds. However, many herbivores, such as ruminants and termites, have symbiotic microorganisms in their digestive tracts that can produce cellulase, allowing them to derive nutrients from cellulose. Industrially, cellulose is used in the production of paper, textiles (cotton, linen), and as a feedstock for the production of biofuels and biochemicals. Its properties of strength, biodegradability, and abundance make it a valuable and versatile material.