xylan

[ zahy-lan ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. the pentosan occurring in woody tissue that hydrolyzes to xylose: used as a source of furfural.

xylan

/ ˈzaɪlæn /

noun

1. biochem a yellow polysaccharide consisting of xylose units: occurs in straw husks and other woody tissue

Word History and Origins

Origin of xylan¹

1890–95; < Greek xýl ( on ) wood + -an, variant of -ane

Example Sentences

This research builds off recent work by the research team to understand other roadblocks to the degradation process -- xylan and lignin -- which they published recently in RSC Sustainability and Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts.

From Science Daily

"We found that xylan and lignin operate in different ways to interfere with the breakdown of cellulose," said Nerya Zexer, postdoctoral researcher in biology in the Penn State Eberly College of Science and lead author of the RSC Sustainability paper.

From Science Daily

"Xylan coats the cellulose, reducing the proportion of the enzymes that can bind to and move cellulose. Lignin inhibits the enzyme's ability to bind to cellulose as well as its movement, reducing the velocity and distance of the enzyme."

From Science Daily

Although strategies exist to remove components like xylan and lignin from the cellulose, the researchers said the removal of cellobiose is more difficult.

From Science Daily

But, the researchers said, cellulose's crystalline structure paired with other compounds called xylan and lignin -- also present in cell walls -- provide additional challenges to the cellulose breakdown.

From Science Daily