Thermozymes and Their Applications: A Review of Recent Literature and Patents

Abstract

Enzymes from thermophilic microorganisms, thermozymes, have unique characteristics such as temperature, chemical, and pH stability. They can be used in several industrial processes, in which they replace mesophilic enzymes or chemicals. Thermozymes are often used when the enzymatic process is compatible with existing (high-temperature) process conditions. The main advantages of performing processes at higher temperatures are reduced risk of microbial contamination, lower viscosity, improved transfer rates, and improved solubility of substrates. However, cofactors, substrates, or products might be unstable or other side reactions may occur. Recent developments show that thermophiles are a good source of novel catalysts that are of great industrial interest. Thermostable polymer-degrading enzymes such as amylases, pullulanases, xylanases, proteases, and cellulases are expected to play an important role in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, paper, pulp, and waste-treatment industries. Considerable research efforts have been made to better understand the stability of thermozymes. There are no major conformational differences with mesophilic enzymes, and a small number of extra salt bridges, hydrophobic interactions, or hydrogen bounds seem to confer the extra degree of stabilization. Currently, overexpression of thermozymes in standard Escherichia coli allows the production of much larger quantities of enzymes, which are easy to purify by heat treatment. With wider availability and lower cost, thermophilic enzymes will see more application in industry.

Hyperexpression of two Aspergillus niger xylanase genes in Escherichia coli and characterization of the gene products

“…Moreover, it has long been recognized that thermophiles represent a source of novel thermostable enzymes (4). Previous study conducted in our laboratory showed the crude proteins from a thermoresistant fungus Aspergillus niger SCTCC 400264 retained high xylanolytic activity after heat treatment, however, there was little information about the genes encoded the xylanases from the strain.…”

Sucrose phosphorylase as cross‐linked enzyme aggregate: Improved thermal stability for industrial applications

“…Indeed, carbohydrate conversions are typically performed at elevated temperatures (60 °C or higher), mainly to avoid microbial contamination [20][21][22]. Here, we describe the production of CLEAs of the SPase from B. adolescentis that display exceptional thermal and operational stability.…”

Endo-1,4-β-xylanase B from Aspergillus cf. niger BCC14405 Isolated in Thailand: Purification, Characterization and Gene Isolation

“…Moreover, it has long been recognized that thermophiles represent a source of novel thermostable enzymes (Bruins et al, 2001).…”