THE BIOLOGICAL DEGRADATION OF SOLUBLE CELLULOSE DERIVATIVES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE MECHANISM OF CELLULOSE HYDROLYSIS

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Abstract
The degree of substitution (DS) of soluble cellulose derivatives is a primary factor in determining the resistance of these materials to microbial attack. The presence of a single substituent on every anhydroglucose unit appears to confer immunity. Below this threshold value, increasing the DS of the cellulose derivative increases its resistance. Methyl cellulose, with the high DS required for solubility, is usually resistant to microbial attack. Carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose, as they appear on the market, are readily hydrolyzed by micro-organisms. The ability to hydrolyze the 1, 4 B-glucosidic linkage found in cellulose is not limited to cellulose-decomposing organisms. Noncellulolytic organisms grown on carboxymethyl cellulose (or on hydroxyethyl cellulose) also attack that linkage and produce filtrates having a Cx activity. Biological solubilization of cellulose probably takes place in at least 2 steps: (a) conversion of the native cellulose molecule into linear anhydro-glucose chains and (b) hydrolysis of the 1, 4B-glucosidic linkage to form soluble sugars. A rapid procedure for the estimation of enzyme Cx hydrolyzing the 1, 4B-glucosidic linkage is descr.
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