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Cellulose is an abundant natural biopolymer on earth, found as a major constituent of plant cell wall in lignocellulosic form. Unlike other compounds cellulose is not easily soluble in water hence enzymatic conversion of cellulose has become a key technology for biodegradation of lignocellulosic materials. Cellulase is the enzyme which can degrade cellulose. Today, cellulases along with hemicellulases and pectinases account for about 20% of the world enzyme market. Because, cellulases have huge biotechnological potential in various industries, including food, brewery and wine, industrial waste to chemical feedstock, animal feed, textile and laundry, pulp and paper, agriculture, as well as in research and development of single-cell protein. Microorganisms such as aerobic bacteria, fungi, yeast and actinomycetes produce cellulase that degrade cellulose by hydrolysing the b-1, 4-glycosidic linkages of cellulose. Mangrove habitats at the interface of land and sea are considered to be a unique niche for the isolation of cellulose-degrading microorganisms due to occurrence of rich lignocellulosic biomass.
About the author
Dr. Bikash Chandra Behera hat an der Universität von Nord-Orissa promoviert. Er kann 22 internationale Forschungsarbeiten vorweisen. Nach seiner Promotion unterrichtete er als Gastdozent P.G.-Studenten an der MITS School of Biotechnology und arbeitet derzeit als Forschungswissenschaftler am Regional Institute of Biotechnology in Bhubaneswar, Indien.
