Hemicellulase vs. Hemicellulose — What's the Difference?

(enzyme) Any enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of hemicellulose

A hemicellulose (also known as polyose) is one of a number of heteropolymer (matrix polysaccharides), such as arabinoxylans, present along with cellulose in almost all terrestrial plant cell walls. While cellulose is crystalline, strong, and resistant to hydrolysis, hemicelluloses have random, amorphous structure with little strength.

Any of several branched polysaccharides that are composed of a variety of different monosaccharides and form a matrix with cellulose and lignin or pectin in plant cell walls. It is produced commercially from corn fiber.

(carbohydrate) A mixture of several plant polysaccharides, of smaller molecular weight than cellulose, that are soluble in dilute alkali; they are involved in the manufacture of paper, and are used in the production of furfural and ethanol.