Stochastic model of lignocellulosic material saccharification
Fig 2
Sketch (top-down view) of the accessibility of polymer bonds depending on their position within the substrate and its digestion state.
(a) Beginning of the simulation: the outer layer (gray crosses, here made entirely of hemicellulose) does not contain any gaps. None of the cellulose bonds (black crosses) are accessible for digestion by enzymes (dark gray polygons). Only the hemicellulose bonds are digestible. (b) Later stage of the simulation: some of the hemicellulose within the outer shell has been digested. The cellulose bonds highlighted by arrows are now accessible for digestion.