Ultrastructural investigations of enzyme treated cell wall material from industrial by-products.

Abstract

Ultrastructural investigations of glycanase treatments of cell wall material from industrial by-products was carried out with the enzyme-thiocarbohydrazide-silver protein technique (ETAg). Driselase, gamanase and an experimental enzyme preparation with a broad spectra of hemicellulase, cellulase and pectolytic activities were used. Carbohydrate hydrolysis was found in cell walls and cell contents in 1-2 cell layers at the surface of 0.2-mm plant particles. Enzyme activity was detected to some extent inside unlignified and lignified cell walls. The absence of any reaction in some sublayers of the cell wall was indicative for the absence of polysaccharide substrate or a very tied interaction of cell wall components preventing enzymic activity or the absence of typical enzymes in crude preparations. It was concluded that the ETAg-technique can be useful to provide information about structural limitations of poorly degradable plant materials. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)