possibility of life on distance frozen planet (astrobiology), genetic tools to create
transgenic, and a realization of the considerable biotechnological potential of these
organisms (Chattopadhyay 2002; Margesin et al. 2007). By contrast, the number of
known or proven current applications remains modest. It should be stressed that
confidentiality accompanying commercial products frequently obscures the possible
psychrophilic origin of compounds and, accordingly, some current applications are
summarized below.
6.14.1 Biotechnological Application of Cold-Active Enzymes
High catalytic efficiency at low and moderate temperatures of cold-active enzyme
offers a number of advantages for biotechnology processes, such as the shortening of
process times, saving of energy costs, prevention of the loss of volatile compounds,
performance of reactions that involve thermosensitive compounds, and reduced risk
of contamination (Margesin et al. 2007). The first cold-adapted enzymes from
Antarctic bacteria that have been cloned, sequenced, and expressed in a recombinant
form were lipases, subtilisins, and α-amylase, i.e. well-known representatives of
industrial enzymes. This illustrates besides the fundamental research on biocatalysis
in the cold the immense biotechnological potential of psychrophilic enzymes
(Fig. 6.3).
6.14.1.1 Detergents Industry
The market for enzymes used in detergents represents 30–40% of all enzymes
produced worldwide. Among these enzymatic cleaning agents, subtilisin
(an alkaline serine protease predominantly produced by Bacillus species) largely
dominates in detergents market (Margesin and Schinner 1999b). At the domestic
level, the current trend is however to use detergents at lower washing temperatures
Table 6.2 List of characterized antifreeze protein (AFP) in bacteria
Organisms
Molecular
weight
a
Nature of
protein
b
TH value
(
C)
References
Moraxella sp.
52 kDa
LP
0.104
Yamashita et al.
(2002)
Pseudomonas putida GR
12-2
164 kDa
LP
UC
Muryoi et al.
(2004)
Colwellia strain SLW05
26.35 kDa
UC
UC
Raymond et al.
2007
Flavobacterium xanthum
IAM12026
59 kDa
UC
1.19
Kawahara et al.
(2007)
Marinomonas primoryensis >1 MDa
UC
2
Garnham et al.
(2008)
Pseudomonas fluorescens
80 kDa
UC
UC
Kawahara et al.
(2004)
a kDa kilo dalton; MDa mega dalton;
b
LP lipoglycoprotein; UN uncharacterized; TH thermal hysteresis
208
P. K. Mishra et al.
transgenic, and a realization of the considerable biotechnological potential of these
organisms (Chattopadhyay 2002; Margesin et al. 2007). By contrast, the number of
known or proven current applications remains modest. It should be stressed that
confidentiality accompanying commercial products frequently obscures the possible
psychrophilic origin of compounds and, accordingly, some current applications are
summarized below.
6.14.1 Biotechnological Application of Cold-Active Enzymes
High catalytic efficiency at low and moderate temperatures of cold-active enzyme
offers a number of advantages for biotechnology processes, such as the shortening of
process times, saving of energy costs, prevention of the loss of volatile compounds,
performance of reactions that involve thermosensitive compounds, and reduced risk
of contamination (Margesin et al. 2007). The first cold-adapted enzymes from
Antarctic bacteria that have been cloned, sequenced, and expressed in a recombinant
form were lipases, subtilisins, and α-amylase, i.e. well-known representatives of
industrial enzymes. This illustrates besides the fundamental research on biocatalysis
in the cold the immense biotechnological potential of psychrophilic enzymes
(Fig. 6.3).
6.14.1.1 Detergents Industry
The market for enzymes used in detergents represents 30–40% of all enzymes
produced worldwide. Among these enzymatic cleaning agents, subtilisin
(an alkaline serine protease predominantly produced by Bacillus species) largely
dominates in detergents market (Margesin and Schinner 1999b). At the domestic
level, the current trend is however to use detergents at lower washing temperatures
Table 6.2 List of characterized antifreeze protein (AFP) in bacteria
Organisms
Molecular
weight
a
Nature of
protein
b
TH value
(
C)
References
Moraxella sp.
52 kDa
LP
0.104
Yamashita et al.
(2002)
Pseudomonas putida GR
12-2
164 kDa
LP
UC
Muryoi et al.
(2004)
Colwellia strain SLW05
26.35 kDa
UC
UC
Raymond et al.
2007
Flavobacterium xanthum
IAM12026
59 kDa
UC
1.19
Kawahara et al.
(2007)
Marinomonas primoryensis >1 MDa
UC
2
Garnham et al.
(2008)
Pseudomonas fluorescens
80 kDa
UC
UC
Kawahara et al.
(2004)
a kDa kilo dalton; MDa mega dalton;
b
LP lipoglycoprotein; UN uncharacterized; TH thermal hysteresis
208
P. K. Mishra et al.