ENDOGLUCANASE Meaning and
Definition
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Endoglucanase is a type of enzyme belonging to the glycoside hydrolase family that plays a crucial role in the breakdown of cellulose, a complex carbohydrate found in the cell walls of plants. It is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of the β-1,4-glycosidic linkages within the cellulose chain to produce shorter cellulose fragments.
Endoglucanase works primarily by attacking the amorphous regions of cellulose, which are more easily accessible, rather than the crystalline regions. By doing so, it disrupts the structure of cellulose and makes it more susceptible to the action of other cellulases, such as exoglucanases and β-glucosidases, that can further break down the cellulose fragments into simpler sugars like glucose.
This enzyme is produced by various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, as well as certain animals and plants. It plays a vital role in the natural decay of plant matter, as well as in industrial processes such as biofuel production, paper manufacturing, textile processing, and animal feed production.
Endoglucanase has diverse applications in various industries due to its ability to efficiently degrade cellulose. It offers significant potential in the development of sustainable and eco-friendly processes for the production of renewable energy and valuable products from biomass.
Common Misspellings for ENDOGLUCANASE
- wndoglucanase
- sndoglucanase
- dndoglucanase
- rndoglucanase
- 4ndoglucanase
- 3ndoglucanase
- ebdoglucanase
- emdoglucanase
- ejdoglucanase
- ehdoglucanase
- ensoglucanase
- enxoglucanase
- encoglucanase
- enfoglucanase
- enroglucanase
- eneoglucanase
- endiglucanase
- endkglucanase
- endlglucanase
- endpglucanase
Etymology of ENDOGLUCANASE
The word "endoglucanase" has its etymology rooted in Greek and Latin.
The term "glucanase" is derived from the Greek word "glukus", meaning sweet or sugar, and the suffix "-ase", which is used to indicate an enzyme. In the context of "glucanase", it refers to an enzyme that breaks down glucans, which are complex sugars composed of glucose units.
The prefix "endo-" in "endoglucanase" comes from the Greek word "endon", meaning within or inside. It is used to indicate that the enzyme acts on the interior bonds of the glucan molecule, rather than breaking them down from the ends.
Combining these elements, "endoglucanase" can be interpreted as an enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of internal bonds within glucan molecules.
Similar spelling word for ENDOGLUCANASE
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