A, full-size cellulosomes, composed of subunits
B, C, cellulosomes with clearly visible ordered arrangement of subunits. The subunits appear to be packed in paracrystalline arrays
D, cellulosomes in different states of decomposition.
Center micrograph (d): partially decomposed cellulosome. Note that the subunits are connected to a central string.

Bottom:
Digrammatic view of the main aspects of the structural concept of the cellulosome, and of the inherent structure-function relationships.
It is assumed that cellulose, after being split into elementary fibrils (Cn), is cut by „multi-cutting events“ occurring along given cellulose fibrils. CS, catalytic site; HS, hydrolysis site; LF, central string; UF, ultrathin fibrils; C4, C2, C1, cellodextrins of various length. (From Mayer, F., Coughlan, M.P., Mori, Y., Ljungdahl, L.G., 1987, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53, 2785-2792).