Enzymes in Industrial Biotechnology

Enzyme technology has been used in industrial processes since ancient Greece. The present industrial applications of enzymes are, however, the result of a rapid development seen primarily over the past five decades, thanks to, first of all, the evolution of modern biotechnology. The result is a highly diversified market that is still growing in terms of both size and complexity. The introduction of protein engineering has revolutionized the development of industrial enzymes further and made it possible to tailor-make enzymes to display new activities and adapt to new process conditions enabling a further expansion of their use. Production of enzymes involves recombinant expression in selected host microorganisms, fermentation, recovery, and formulation. The detergent industry is the largest user of enzymes, which are utilized to remove soiling, increase softness, and protect garments. The starch industry uses a variety of enzymes in the production of value-added products from starches. In the bioethanol industry, enzymes are used to convert starch and biomass into fermentable sugars. Enzymes also find wide use in the textile, leather, pulp and paper, and animal feed industries. Another important area is the food industry in which enzymes are used in the dairy, bakery, brewing, and protein-modification industries. Keywords: biotechnology; catalysts; enzymes; industrial biotechnology; protein engineering