Question

2. Cellulosic Biofuels are fuels that are produced by fermentation of cellulose containing materials (wood, leaves, paper, etc.) by yeast. what would be necessary before yeast cells are capable of fermenting sugars from cellulose? (Hint: consider the similarities between lactose and cellulose?)

Answer 1

The answer is hydrolysis. This can be achieved through the use of a strong acid or cellulolytic enzymes (from fungi) that are capable of converting the cellulose to fermentable sugars.  This pretreatment hydrolyzes the β-1, 4-glycosidic linkages of cellulose subunits.