Biochemical Properties and Applications of Heat-active Biocatalysts
Christian Schäfers, Skander Elleuche and Garabed Antranikian
from: Thermophilic Microorganisms (Edited by: Fu-Li Li). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2015) Pages: 47-90.
Abstract
The discovery of extremophilic microorganisms (extremophiles) and their enzyme systems (extremozymes) has opened new opportunities for various industrial applications over the last decades. Depending on their specific properties such as high thermostability, tolerance at extreme pH values or their performance at high organic solvent concentrations, these microorganisms are suitable tools for wide range of applications. Extremozymes are suitable for a vast number of industrial areas such as waste treatment, food and feed industries, paper industry, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Thermoactive biocatalysts like proteases, lipases and carbohydrate-degrading enzymes are only a few examples that are of great industrial value and play a crucial role in high-temperature processes. This chapter focuses on different classes of heat-active enzymes that are currently used in various industrial applications. It highlights the value of these biocatalysts and their biochemical properties for the corresponding industry. Moreover some light will be shed on additional enzymes that are less frequently applied, but are of potential use for new applications read more ...
