Chapter 9

Enzymes for Cellulosic Biomass Conversion

Takashi Tonozuka, Makoto Yoshida and Michio Takeuchi

Abstract

Cellulose is one of the most abundant biomass resources on earth. The enzymatic degradation of cellulosic biomass is a key technology for producing cost-effective bioethanol. This chapter provides an introduction to the structure and function of cellulases and related enzymes. A filamentous fungus, Trichoderma reesei, is the most used microorganism in industry as a source of cellulolytic enzymes, and two major cellulases, Cel6A and Cel7A, from T. reesei have been extensively studied. Some other enzymes, β-glucosidases and hemicellulase, are also essential for the degradation of cellulosic biomass. This chapter also includes a brief ...

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