β-Galactosidase: From its source and applications to its recombinant form.

Carbohydrate-active enzymes are a group of important enzymes playing a critical role in degradation and synthesis of carbohydrates. Glycosidases can hydrolyze glycosides into oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, and glyco-conjugates via a cost-effective approach. Lactase is an important member of β-glycosidases found in higher plants, animals, and microorganisms. β-galactosidases can be used to degrade the milk lactose for making a lactose-free milk which is sweeter than regular milk and is suitable for lactose intolerant people. β-galactosidase is employed by many food industries to degrade lactose and improve the digestibility, sweetness, solubility and flavor of dairy products. β-Galactosidase enzymes have various families and are applied in the food processing industries such as hydrolyzed-milk products, whey, and galacto-oligosaccharides. Thus, this enzyme is a valuable protein which is now produced by recombinant technology. In this review, the, origins, structure recombinant production and critical modifications of β-galactosidase for improving the production process is discussed. Since β-galactosidase is a valuable enzyme in industry and health cares, study of its various aspects is important in industrial biotechnology and applied biochemistry. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.