Environmental degradation of cellulose under anaerobic conditions

Cellulose is a primary structural component of plants and one the most abundant polymers on Earth. Degradation this recalcitrant plant biomass an important process in global carbon cycle can potentially provide feedstock for biofuels. Fungi bacteria are organisms able to breakdown biomass-derived cellulose. Anaerobic bacteria, present cellulose degrading ecosystems, such as compost piles, soils rich organic matter, aquatic sediments, digestive systems herbivores, have developed efficient pathways maximize metabolic energy from degradation. In absence terminal electron acceptors, oxygen, hydrogen-producing common methods carrier recycling. Electron bifurcating linked hydrogen metabolism play role anaerobic metabolism. study, samples environmental cellulose-degrading microbial communities were collected, products produced during degradation examined. Samples different environments fermentation cellulose, suggesting flexibility fermentative pathways. The observed included hydrogen, acetate, propionate, butyrate, ethanol, methane.