Wood hemicelluloses exert distinct biomechanical contributions to cellulose fibrillar networks.

ABSTRACT: Hemicelluloses, a family of heterogeneous polysaccharides with complex molecular structures, constitute a fundamental component of lignocellulosic biomass. However, the contribution of each hemicellulose type to the mechanical properties of secondary plant cell walls remains elusive. Here we homogeneously incorporate different combinations of extracted and purified hemicelluloses (xylans and glucomannans) from softwood and hardwood species into self-assembled networks during cellulose biosynthesis in a bacterial model, without altering the morphology and the crystallinity of the cellulose bundles. These composite hydrogels can be therefore envisioned as models of secondary plant cell walls prior to lignification. The incorporated hemicelluloses exhibit both a rigid phase having close inter

SUBMITTER: Berglund J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7499266 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature