Fungal Cellulases: New Avenues in Biofuel Production

Abstract

Cellulases are the enzymes decaying cellulose and related polysaccharides and are produced by organisms like fungi, bacteria, algae, and protozoans. Fungi are the pioneers behind cellulose degradation, and the fungal cellulases are simpler compared to the bacterial cellulase. Increased usage of fossil fuels causes catastrophic destruction to the environment and the health of the population worldwide, which calls for exploring new avenues of fuel generation to save the environment from CO2 emission. Biofuels from fungi are extensively explored, and among the diverse fungal biofuels, fungal cellulase-based biofuels seem to be a promising option. Besides the production of bioethanol, fungal cellulases are widely envisaged in paper and pulp industry, textile industry, food industry, brewery industry, and agriculture sector. An elaborate work on fungal cellulase is indeed needed for their rapid utilization as biofuel sources. Advancements in the fungal cellulase technology and the yield enhancements will make way for establishing the biofuel production as a sustainable solution to the prevalent energy crisis and the associated environmental pollution issues worldwide.