Cellulose is the major component in plant cell walls, but it seldom or never occurs alone. In nearly all cases, it occurs together with other polysaccharides – matrix polysaccharides, also known as hemicelluloses and pectins. Despite their abundance, these polysaccharides have generally received less interest than cellulose and lignin, both for applications and in basic research. In fact, there is no consensus regarding their biological role or why they have their specific structural properties.

　　We have studied these polysaccharides using various methods over several years, and we suggest a definition where hemicelluloses are matrix polysaccharides that can adapt to the straight structure of cellulose, whereas pectins are matrix polysaccharides that cannot. Although it is attractive to use these polysaccharides for technical purposes, similar polysaccharides can be obtained from agricultural products, often at a lower cost.

　　Using structural simulations, we found that hemicelluloses adsorb to cellulose fibrils by aligning themselves parallel or antiparallel to the cellulose chains, whereas pectins adsorb in a more irregular way. Side chains of matrix polysaccharides may increase the stability of the polysaccharides towards degradation. Matrix polysaccharides also seem to affect both cellulose and lignin in the cell wall. The hemicellulose glucomannan appears to aggregate cellulose fibrils, whereas xylan seems to distribute the cellulose more evenly. Furthermore, the presence of xylan seems to increase the number of β-O-4 bonds in lignin.

　　In several ways, it appears that plants use matrix polysaccharides to control the properties of the cell wall.

　　Gunnar Henriksson，瑞典皇家理工学院教授。1995年获乌普萨拉大学生物化学博士学位，1989年获该校理学学士学位。1995–1996年于美国佐治亚大学从事博士后研究。1997年任乌普萨拉大学生物化学讲师、研究员，1997–2003年任瑞典皇家理工学院制浆与造纸化学技术系助理教授，2004–2007年任该院纤维与高分子系高级讲师，2007年起任该系教授，并兼任瑞典卡尔斯塔德大学制浆技术客座教授。作为国际木材科学院院士，Henriksson教授长期从事木材化学、木材降解酶学、木质素组织与反应机制等研究，发表论文150余篇，致力于木质素及木质多糖的功能化应用，推动木材产业可持续发展。曾任瑞典科学委员会评估委员会委员、皇家理工学院教务委员会委员、《ISRN生物材料》编委，并作为Heli Inovatio HB、Ecohelix HB、Re:newcell AB等公司联合创始人，积极参与学术组织与行业协作。