title: Modes of action of exo- and endo-cellulases in the degradation of celluloses I and II.
abstract: Cotton and Valonia-cellulose (cellulose I) were readily attacked by endo-cellulase of a highly endowise-hydrolysis type, with a sharp decrease in the degree of polymerization, while the simultaneous production of reducing sugar was low. In contrast, viscose rayon and alkali-cellulose (cellulose II) showed little lowering of the degree of polymerization by endo-cellulase, though the effect was slightly greater than with an exo-cellulase, while the simultaneous production of reducing sugar was very high. The synergistic effect of exo- and endo-cellulases on the hydrolysis of cellulose was much higher with cellulose I than with cellulose II. These results can be explained in terms of differences in the polarity of cellulose chains and in the crystallinity and/or ultrastructure of the cellulose fibers.
mesh_terms: D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002482:Cellulose; D043366:Cellulose 1,4-beta-Cellobiosidase; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D010944:Plants; D011124:Polyporaceae / Q000201:enzymology; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D002482:Cellulose; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; D002480:Cellulase; D043366:Cellulose 1,4-beta-Cellobiosidase