Cellulases

Abstract

Cellulose is an unbranched chain of several thousand D-glucose monomers formed by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds. In situ, numerous parallel poly-glucose chains form insoluble complexes of crystalline cellulose fibres through hydrogen bonds and vander-Waals forces. These fibres, together with the surrounding lignin matrix, form "lignocellulose", the major component of plant litter, which effectively resists degradation (e.g., Royer & Minshall 2001). Although cellulase activity as a measure of cellulose degradation may be an effective indicator for litter decomposition in terrestrial systems (Savoie & Gourbière 1989; Skambracks & Zimmer, 1998), the correlation between litter mass loss and cellulase activity seems limited in some aquatic systems (Suberkropp & Jenkins 1995).