hemicellulose
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of polysaccharide: "hemicellulose" refers to any of several heteropolymers (matrix polysaccharides) present in plant cell walls, along with cellulose and lignin. Unlike cellulose, hemicellulose has a branched, amorphous structure and is more easily hydrolyzed.
Usage Examples
- (A polysaccharide found in plant cell walls.)
- (The decomposition of this plant polymer.)
- (A structural polysaccharide in plant cell walls.)
Advanced Usage
- "Hemicellulose content": the proportion of hemicellulose in a given plant material.
- The hemicellulose content of hardwood is higher than that of softwood. (The amount of this polysaccharide varies by tree type.)
- "Hemicellulose hydrolysis": the chemical or enzymatic breakdown of hemicellulose into its constituent sugars (e.g., xylose, arabinose).
- Hemicellulose hydrolysis is a critical step in biofuel production. (Breaking down this polymer to yield fermentable sugars.)
Variants and Related Words
- Hemicellulosic (adj): relating to or derived from hemicellulose.
- The hemicellulosic fraction of the biomass was extracted. (The portion composed of hemicellulose.)
- Hemicellulase (n): an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of hemicellulose.
- Hemicellulase is added to animal feed to improve digestibility. (An enzyme that acts on hemicellulose.)
Synonyms
- Matrix polysaccharide: a type of polysaccharide in plant cell walls that forms a gel-like matrix.
- Non-cellulosic polysaccharide: a polysaccharide in plant cell walls other than cellulose.
Related Idioms (None directly applicable; the term is technical and lacks common idioms.)
Phrasal Verbs (None applicable; "hemicellulose" is a noun with no phrasal verb usage.)