cellulase A carbohydrate-digesting enzyme (a carbohydrase) that hydrolyses cellulose to sugars, including cellobiose (a disaccharide consisting of two β-(1,4) linked molecules of glucose) and glucose. Cellulase breaks the β-glycosidic links that join the constituent sugar units of cellulose. It plays an essential part in abscission in plants, while microbial cellulases enable the digestion of plant material by herbivores. See also Ruminantia.

cellulase A highly specific endoglucosidase enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose by attacking β-1,4 linkages.

cellulase A highly specific, endoglucosidase enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose by attacking beta-1, 4 linkages.

cellulase An enzyme that hydrolyses cellulose to its constituent monosaccharide (glucose) and disaccharide (cellobiose) units. It is present in the digestive juices of some wood‐boring insects and in various micro‐organisms, but not in mammals.