silverfromfilms

=Denim and Enzymes?=

What are enzmes?
Enzymes are a type of protein that speeds up metabolic processes. Some digest and break down goods in the stomach. Generally, they attach to specific substrates, sugars and chemicals and only react with them. Enzymes can be influenced by factors such as pH and temperature. If the environment around the enzymes is changed, the enzymes could malfunction and change shape.

So how are they related?
Special type of enzymes called cellulase soften jeans and change the color of the jeans.

What is a cellulase?
Cellulase is an enzyme that breaks down cellulose to beta-glucose. It is produced in herbivores who eat lots of plants containing cellulose. The herbivores chambers full of symbiotic bacteria which produce cellulase.

How does it work?
The cellulase can be divided into three general types: endocellulase, exocellulase and cellobiase. The endocellulase breakes the internal bonds and structure as a way of exposing individual cellulase polysaccharide chains. The exocellulase combines 2 or 4 units from the exposed chains producing tetrasaccharides and disaccharides such as cellobiose. The cellobiase or beta-glucosidase breaks down the product from the endocellulase process into monosaccharides. Generally, cellulase breaks down cellulose in the cotton of jeans. They remove the firbers and the color that is on the surface of the fibers.

What are some of the advantages?
The denim used to be washed with stones to achieve the faded, soft material. Yet, the use of enzymes have brought many advantages. For example, the machines are less damaged, the garments are less damaged, more denim can be produced, and the waste-water is less contaminated.

Some other uses?
The cellulose is not only used in the fashion industry but also the food industry. For instance, it is used to process coffee. It breaks down cellulose during drying of beans. A form of cellulose is also found in our stomach and aids our digestion.

http://www.p2pays.org/ref/11/10846.htm http://134.68.135.1/jitt/sampler/biology/bio_archive/goodfor15.html http://www.answers.com/cellulase http://134.68.135.1/jitt/sampler/biology/bio_archive/goodfor15.html http://www.thefabricofourlives.com/FabricSmart/HiTechDenim/