Fig. 10.

Cel7A preferentially initiates hydrolysis at mechanically induced defects in cellulose nanofibrils. a–c TEM images of Cladophora cellulose nanofibrils exhibiting defects. d–f TEM images of defect sites in Cladophora cellulose nanofibrils following partial digestion by Cel7A. g–i Schematic depiction of the process by which processive cellobiohydrolases engage molecular defects to produce “sharpened” morphologies near the defect site.

Adapted from Ciesielski et al. [204] with permission. Copyright © 2019 National Academy of Sciences