Cellulase enzymes function through a synergistic mechanism involving three main types of enzymes: endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and β-glucosidases.
Endoglucanases randomly cleave internal bonds within the cellulose polymer, creating free chain ends. Exoglucanases then act on these free chain ends to produce cellobiose (a disaccharide of glucose). β-Glucosidases further hydrolyze cellobiose into individual glucose molecules.
This coordinated action ensures the efficient conversion of cellulose into fermentable sugars.
