Single enzymes of the cellulase complex are efficent tools for understanding the biodegradation of cellulose derivatives. Sensitive size exlusion chromatography makes it possible to detect minor fragmentations. The accessibility of cellulose derivatives is clearly a function of the degree of substitution (DS). In addition, charge and size of the substituents and the substituent distribution play major roles for enzymatic attack. Whereas carboxymethyl cellulose of a certain DS was fully resistant against endoglucanase action, a methylcellulose of the same DS was markedly fragmented. Cellulose acetate was taken as an example for demonstration of the impact of esterases besides cellulases in biodegradation. The presentce of acetyl esterase enabled the endoglucanase to degrade cellulose acetate much faster than when this type of enzyme was absent.
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