Whither enzyme technology?

There are many directions in which enzyme technologists are currently applying their art and which are at the forefront of biotechnological research and development. Some of these have already been examined in some detail earlier (see Chapters 6 and 7). At present, relatively few enzymes are available on a large scale (i.e., > kg) and are suitable for industrial applications. These shortcomings are being addressed in a number of ways:

1. new enzymes are being sought in the natural environment and by strain selection (see Chapter 2);
2. established industrial enzymes are being used in as wide a variety of ways as can be conceived;
3. novel enzymes are being designed and produce by genetic engineering;
4. new organic catalysts are being designed and synthesised using the 'knowhow' established from enzymology; and
5. more complex enzyme systems are being utilised.

Each of these areas has a extensive and rapidly expanding literature. Some advances possibly belong more properly to other areas of science. Thus, the development of genetically improved enzymes is generally undertaken by molecular biologists and the design and synthesis of novel enzyme-like catalysts is in the provenance of the organic chemists. Both groups of workers will, however, base their science on data provided by the enzyme technologist. Space requirements in this volume do not allow the full treatment of these related areas but will be discussed briefly here.

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This page was established in 2004 and last updated by Martin Chaplin
on 6 August, 2014