Hemicellulose biodegradation

Plant cell walls are complex, heterogeneous structures composed mainly of polymers, such as cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignins. In spite of several decades of research, cell wall assembly and the biosynthesis and ultimate biodegradative pathways of individual polymers are still far from being fully understood. One simple example will suffice Even today, no enzyme capable of catalyzing cellulose formation in vitro has been obtained. 

Pdrez, J., Munoz-Dorado, J., de la Rubia, T., and Martinez, J. (2002). Biodegradation and biological treatments of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin An overview. Int. Microbiol. 5, 53-63. 

Figure 18 O-Acetyl-4-O-methyl-D-glucuronoxylan, a type of hemicellulose, structure from angiosperms (Dekker, 1985) (reproduced by permission of Academic Press from Biosynthesis and Biodegradation of...

Jeffries, T.W. 1994. Biodegradation of lignin and hemicelluloses pp. 233-277. In Biochemistry of Microbial Degradation (Ed. C. Ratledge). Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. 

Biopolymers can be directly obtained [KOB 03] fiom hemicellulose in com or starch. Starch, a major polymer from arable crops, is a good candidate for the production of biodegradable packaging or objects. If combined with a compound of wheat straw, its potential apphcations could increase. 

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