 Recent advances in enzyme technology have enabled the efficient breakdown of cellulose, the most abundant and recalcitrant component of lignocellulosic biomass. Two types of enzymes, CBM-33 and GH61, have been identified that act on the surface of the insoluble substrate, introducing chain breaks into the polysaccharide chains without the need of first extracting them from their crystalline matrix. This has significantly improved the efficiency of traditional hydrolytic enzymes, such as cellulases, allowing for more rapid and complete degradation of the polysaccharide chains. This article was authored by Hornsven, Vajakolstad Gustov, Westerengj, and others.