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Real-Time Detection of the Morphological Change in Cellulose by A Nanomechanical Sensor
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Real-Time Detection of the Morphological Change in Cellulose by A Nanomechanical Sensor

Liming Zhao, Ahmed Bulhassan, Guoliang Yang, Hai-Feng Ji and Jun Xi
Biotechnology and bioengineering, v 107(1), pp 190-194
01 Sep 2010
PMID: 20653025
url
https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc2909611View
Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified) Open

Abstract

cellulase cellulose microcantilever nanomechanical structural change surface detection
Up to now, experimental limitations have prevented researchers from achieving the molecular-level understanding for the initial steps of the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose, where cellulase breaks down the crystal structure on the surface region of cellulose and exposes cellulose chains for the subsequent hydrolysis by cellulase. Because one of these non-hydrolytic enzymatic steps could be the rate-limiting step for the entire enzymatic hydrolysis of crystalline cellulose by cellulase, being able to analyze and understand these steps is instrumental in uncovering novel leads for improving the efficiency of cellulase. In this communication, we report an innovative application of the microcantilever technique for a real-time assessment of the morphological change of cellulose induced by a treatment of sodium chloride. This sensitive nanomechanical approach to define changes in surface structure of cellulose has the potential to permit a real time assessment of the effect of the non-hydrolytic activities of cellulase on cellulose and thereby to provide a comprehensive understanding of the initial steps of the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose.

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Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
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