Cellulose is a linear polysaccharide composed of glucose units joined by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds, and it is the principal structural component of plant cell walls and the most abundant organic polymer on Earth. The β-linkage allows individual chains to pack into tightly hydrogen-bonded microfibrils with both highly o…
Cellulose is a linear polysaccharide composed of glucose units joined by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds, and it is the principal structural component of plant cell walls and the most abundant organic polymer on Earth. The β-linkage allows individual chains to pack into tightly hydrogen-bonded microfibrils with both highly ordered crystalline and less ordered amorphous regions. This crystallinity confers mechanical strength and chemical recalcitrance, making cellulose resistant to spontaneous breakdown and central to the rigidity of plant tissue and lignocellulosic biomass. Because of this resistance, the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is a major focus of study. Cellulases, including endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and β-glucosidases produced by bacteria and fungi, act synergistically to cleave the polymer into cellobiose and glucose. Research examines cellulases from thermophilic and other microbial sources, their production from lignocellulosic waste by fermentation, and accessory glucanase and xylanase activities that aid the deconstruction of complex plant material. These processes underpin biotechnological applications in biofuel and biogas production, where releasing fermentable sugars from agricultural and woody residues is a key objective. Derived materials such as cellulose nanocrystals, obtained by controlled acid treatment of the crystalline regions, extend cellulose into high-performance composites, but the polymer itself remains foundational to plant biology and bioenergy.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
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