Selective degradation of the cellulose Iα component in Cladophora cellulose with Trichoderma viride cellulase

We previously reported that the algal-bacterial type cellulose microfibril was more susceptible to enzymatic attack than the cotton-ramie type cellulose. In cellulose crystallite (CC) of the algal-bacterial type cellulose, the cellulose I-alpha crystal component was more selectively degraded than the cellulose I-beta crystal component. The shortened CC was observed frequently in the residue of Cladophora CC. Fibrillation was observed in the residual Halocynthia CC and repeatedly hydrolyzed Cladophora CC that richly contained cellulose I-beta. These results may suggest the supermolecular structure of CCs. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.