Cellulase: a perspective

Abstract

Abstract Cellulose, a polymer of |3-1,4-linked D-glucose residues, is the World’s most abundant natural polymer. It occurs predominantly in plants, forming their main structural component, but also occurs widely in other organisms, such as bacteria, algae, fungi and animals. With annual production of around 1.8 x 1012 tonnes, it has attracted considerable study encompassing its synthesis, biodegradation and utilization in several recent reviews (M. P. Goughian Biotechnol. Genetic Engng Rev. 3, 39-109 (1985); B. S. Montenecourt & D. E. Eveleigh in Gene manipulations in fungi (ed. J. M. Bennett & L. L. Lasure), pp. 491- 512, New York: Academic Press (1985); J. N. Saddler Microbiol. Sci. 3, 84-87 (1986)). With this wealth of data at hand, a perspective of fungal cellulase is presented with consideration of current models of action, nature of the enzyme complex, analytical methods and approaches for enhanced production.