The industrial production of enzymes

Abstract

The production of enzymes is a pursuit central to the modern biotechnology industry. Markets for traditional industrial enzymes continue to grow while the continued emphasis on biotechnological endeavours has generated demand for an ever increasing number of additional biocatalysts. The advent of genetic engineering has now facilitated the large-scale production of enzymes and other proteins which are produced naturally only in minute quantities. This development is particularly significant with regard to the production of enzymes and other proteins of therapeutic significance, which are now available in clinically useful quantities. The level of downstream processing to which any enzyme is subjected is dependent upon its intended application. Industrial enzymes produced in bulk generally require little downstream processing, and hence are relatively crude preparations. Enzymes destined for therapeutic applications are subject to a far higher degree of downstream processing, often incorporating 3–4 chromatographic steps. While enzymology is one of the longest established branches of the biochemical sciences, it continues to be an area of ongoing, active research. The continual discovery of new enzymes and a greater understanding of previously discovered enzymes and their functional significance suggests many novel applications for these catalytic activities. The intestinal production and utilization of enzymes will continue to be of central importance in the biotechnology industry.