Cellodextrin: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
Cellodextrins are created in most anaerobic bacteria by a cellusome (an amalgomation of cellulytic enzymes on the outside of a cell). An endoglucanase first cuts the crystaline cellulose in an amorphous zone and exoglucanases subsequently cleave these large insoluble chunks of cellulose into smaller, soluble cellodextrins which can be used by the cell. |
Cellodextrins are created in most anaerobic bacteria by a cellusome (an amalgomation of cellulytic enzymes on the outside of a cell). An endoglucanase first cuts the crystaline cellulose in an amorphous zone and exoglucanases subsequently cleave these large insoluble chunks of cellulose into smaller, soluble cellodextrins which can be used by the cell. |
||
[[User:Jfitzger|Jfitzger]] 16:22, 22 August 2006 (UTC) |
|||
Revision as of 16:22, 22 August 2006
Cellodextrins are glucose chains of varying length (2-6 glucose monomers) resulting from the breakdown of cellulose. A cellodextrin is classified by its degree of polymerization (DP) which indicates the numbr of linked glucose monomers it contains. Each glucose monomer is linked via a beta 1,4 glucosidic bond. The most common cellodextrins are listed below: cellobiose (DP=2) cellotriose (DP=3) cellotetrose (DP=4) cellopentose (DP=5) cellohexose (DP=6)
Many cellulitic bactria use cellodextrins as their primary source of energy. The energy is obtained through the cleavage of glucosidic bonds as well as the anaerobic catabolism of the glucose monomers. Transport of cellodextrins across the cell membrane is usually an active process, requring ATP.
Cellodextrins are created in most anaerobic bacteria by a cellusome (an amalgomation of cellulytic enzymes on the outside of a cell). An endoglucanase first cuts the crystaline cellulose in an amorphous zone and exoglucanases subsequently cleave these large insoluble chunks of cellulose into smaller, soluble cellodextrins which can be used by the cell. Jfitzger 16:22, 22 August 2006 (UTC)