BIOTECHNOLOGY - V. H. Herasymenko - 2006

Part II. Special Biotechnologies

Chapter 20. BIOTECHNOLOGY OF ENZYME PRODUCTION

20.4. INDUSTRIAL ENZYME PREPARATIONS

Hydrolytic Enzymes play a crucial role in modern Industrial processes. One of their significant advantages over other classes of enzymes is their ability to carry out enzymatic reactions without Cofactors and Coenzymes. In many manufacturing processes, Hydrolases have replaced acid Hydrolysis. Their high Specificity allows The production of final products with a minimal amount of by-products, preserving the original taste and aroma.

The most commonly used groups of enzymes are:

Amylolytic enzymes: α-amylase and glucoamylase. Their substrate is starch. Amylase breaks down starch into simpler Polysaccharides known as dextrins, while glucoamylase breaks down both dextrins and starch into glucose. These enzymes are widely used in the food and alcohol industries, as well as in animal husbandry.

Proteolytic Enzymes constitute the Class of peptide hydrolases (proteases). Their function is to accelerate the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in Proteins AND Peptides. An important feature is their selective action on specific peptide bonds within the protein molecule. For instance, Pepsin acts exclusively on bonds involving aromatic Amino Acids, whereas Trypsin targets only the bonds between Arginine and Lysine.

There is a vast array of enzymes in this class. In industry, they are classified according to their optimal pH range of activity: pH 1.5–3.7 for acid proteases; pH 6.5–7.5 for neutral proteases; and pH > 8.0 for alkaline proteases.

Proteases have a wide range of Applications: the meat industry (for meat tenderization); the leather industry (for Hair removal and hide softening); film production; the cosmetics industry (as additives in toothpastes, creams, and lotions); the manufacturing of synthetic detergents; medicine (in the Treatment of inflammatory conditions, Burns, and thromboses); and animal husbandry (as dietary supplements for livestock).

Pectolytic enzymes (pectinases) hydrolyze pectic substances, yielding organic acids. Their applications include: the textile industry (retting of flax prior to Processing); winemaking (wine clarification and turbidity removal); food canning (for the production of fruit juices); and animal husbandry (as a feed additive to improve nutrient Digestion).

Cellulolytic enzymes (cellulases) are highly specific, acting exclusively on the depolymerization of Cellulose molecules. Typically, they function as a multi-enzyme complex that ultimately drives the complete hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose. Their applications hold great promise: in the hydrolysis industry (obtaining glucose from cellulose); in medicine (extracting medicinal substances, such as Steroids, from plants); in the food industry (enhancing the quality of vegetable oils); and in agriculture (as additives in compound feeds for ruminants).