The study looked at how treating corn stover with acid affects its cellulase accessibility. They found that reducing xylan content in the stover makes it easier for enzymes to break down. Lower xylan levels also create more binding sites for a specific enzyme, Cel7A. Surprisingly, the amount of Cel7A bound to the stover did not correlate with lignin content, suggesting that lignin might be hindering enzyme activity. Further research is needed to understand the role of lignin in making biomass harder to break down.