Pectinases of thermophilic microbes

Abstract

Represented by archeal, bacterial, and fungal species, thermophilic organisms have been isolated from all types of terrestrial and marine hot environment. Pectinase from these organisms (thermophilic pectinase) developed unique structure-function properties of high thermostability and optimal activity at higher temperature. The advantage of using thermostable enzymes for various industrial applications is of course the intrinsic thermostability, and hence low activity losses during the raw material pretreatment at the elevated temperatures. Industrial applications of thermophilic pectinolytic enzyme have drawn a great deal of attention for use as biocatalysts because most of the industrial processes are carried out at higher temperature zone. Their potential to carry out myriads of biochemical reactions even at stringent conditions makes their use eco-friendly and best alternative to polluting chemical technologies. The role of acidic pectinases in extraction and clarification of fruit juices is well established. Recently, these have emerged as suitable candidate for biobleaching of wood pulp, desizing and bioscouring of cotton, degumming of plant fibers and biomass conversion, etc.