Cellulase

The term "cellulase" describes a class of enzymes that break cellulose down into oligosaccharides and ultimately to simple sugars such as glucose.  Bacteria in the digestive tract of herbivores use cellulase to digest cellulose that the animals have eaten.

Cellulase is used commercially in industrial processes such as textile and paper production to prepare the surface of the cellulosic substrate for treatments such as printing and the application of resin finishes.

One of the most promising research topics involving cellulase is to find efficient methods of treating plant and timber industry waste so that its constituent cellulose can be reduced to fermentable sugars for the production of ethanol.

Suggested experimental protocol (new window, 0.1M, pdf format)

Enzyme FAQ (new window)

Enzyme overview (new window, 0.1M, pdf format)