title: Cellulases: Classification, Methods of Determination and Industrial Applications.
abstract: Microbial cellulases have been receiving worldwide attention, as they have enormous potential to process the most abundant cellulosic biomass on this planet and transform it into sustainable biofuels and other value added products. The synergistic action of endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and β-glucosidases is required for the depolymerization of cellulose to fermentable sugars for transformation in to useful products using suitable microorganisms. The lack of a better understanding of the mechanisms of individual cellulases and their synergistic actions is the major hurdles yet to be overcome for large-scale commercial applications of cellulases. We have reviewed various microbial cellulases with a focus on their classification with mechanistic aspects of cellulase hydrolytic action, insights into novel approaches for determining cellulase activity, and potential industrial applications of cellulases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
authors.forename: Amita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
authors.forename: Rupinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tewari
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
authors.forename: Susheel Singh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, D.A.V. College, Chandigarh, 160011, India.
authors.forename: Raman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India. sonisk@pu.ac.in.
authors.forename: Sanjeev Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Soni
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology; D044602:Cellulases / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D057075:Enzyme Assays / Q000379:methods*; D007221:Industry
chemical_list: D044602:Cellulases
keywords: Biofuel; Cellulase assays; Cellulases; Cellulose; Classification; Industrial applications