TRANSILANE POWDER

Cellulase(EC3.2.1.4; systematic name4-β-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase) is any of severalenzymesproduced chiefly byfungi,bacteria, andprotozoansthatcatalyzecellulolysis, the decomposition ofcelluloseand of some relatedpolysaccharides: The name is also used for any naturally occurring mixture or complex of various such enzymes, that act serially or synergistically to decompose cellulosic material. Cellulases break down the cellulose molecule intomonosaccharides("simple sugars") such as β-glucose, or shorter polysaccharides andoligosaccharides. Cellulose breakdown is of considerable economic importance, because it makes a major constituent of plants available for consumption and use in chemical reactions. The specific reaction involved is thehydrolysisof the 1,4-β-D-glycosidic linkagesin cellulose,hemicellulose,lichenin, and cerealβ-D-glucans. Because cellulose molecules bind strongly to each other, cellulolysis is relatively difficult compared to the breakdown of other polysaccharides such as starch. Most mammals have only very limited ability to digest dietary fibres like cellulose by themselves. In many herbivorous animals such asruminantslike cattle and sheep andhindgut fermenterslike horses, cellulases are produced bysymbioticbacteria. Endogenous cellulases are produced by a few types ofanimals, such as sometermites, snails,andearthworms. Cellulases have also been found in green microalgae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii,Gonium pectoraleandVolvox carteri) and their catalytic domains (CD) belonging toGH9 Familyshow highestsequence homologyto metazoan endogenous cellulases. Algal cellulases are modular, consisting of putative novel cysteine-rich carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs), proline/serine-(PS) rich linkers in addition to putative Ig-like and unknown domains in some members. Cellulase fromGonium pectoraleconsisted of two CDs separated by linkers and with a C-terminal CBM. Several different kinds of cellulases are known, which differ structurally and mechanistically. Synonyms, derivatives, and specific enzymes associated with the name "cellulase" includeendo-1,4-β-D-glucanase(β-1,4-glucanase, β-1,4-endoglucan hydrolase, endoglucanase D, 1,4-(1,3;1,4)-β-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase),carboxymethyl cellulase(CMCase), avicelase,celludextrinase,cellulase A,cellulosin AP,alkali cellulase,cellulase A 3,9.5 cellulase,celloxylanaseandpancellase SS. Enzymes that cleaveligninhave occasionally been called cellulases, but this old usage is deprecated; they arelignin-modifying enzymes.