Skip to main content
Figure 1 | BMC Microbiology

Figure 1

From: Towards a molecular understanding of symbiont function: Identification of a fungal gene for the degradation of xylan in the fungus gardens of leaf-cutting ants

Figure 1

Plant cell wall degradation. Schematic overview of the structure of a plant cell wall and the most important enzymatic reactions involved in the degradation of its polysaccharides. Cellulose microfibrils (blue) are cross-linked by hemicellulose chains (black) within a matrix of pectin (orange). The complex polysaccharides are degraded to disaccharides and oligosaccharides, which are further degraded to soluble monosaccharides that can be assimilated. Full degradation of hemicellulose and pectin may involve more enzymes than those presented here (up to ca. 17 for hemicellulose and ca. 24 for pectin [23]).

Back to article page

BMC Microbiology

ISSN: 1471-2180

Contact us