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11 Enzymes
environmental implications of their production process, biochemistry, as well as the
demand and commercial production are also discussed with the aim of giving the
reader an understanding of the integral role of these classes of aquatic polymers
within the natural world and in industry.
The diversity of organisms present in the aquatic environment and the intricate
food chain makes it a promising source of enzyme-producing organisms. The large
variety of organisms present in the aquatic environment, some of which feed on
other organisms and non-living matter means these organisms in the aquatic environment produce the enzymes necessary to catalyze a wide variety of biological
processes. Organisms including fish which produce proteolytic enzymes for breaking down proteins in the other sea life they feed on, marine bacteria which produce
chitinolytic enzymes for breaking down chitins in the shells of crustaceans, and
amphipods inhabiting the Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part
of the ocean, produce cellulases and amylases that allow them to digest wood from
shipwreck and fallen plants as a means of surviving in the deep dark part of the sea
where food is extremely scarce at extreme temperature and pressure (Kobayashi et al.
2012). Other examples of enzymes obtained from aquatic sources include trypsin,
pepsin, lipase, collagenase and chymotrypsin.
Fish, particularly the internal organs of fish, fish viscera, is one of the most widely
explored aquatic sources of enzymes as an alternative to the conventional sources
(microorganisms, terrestrial plants and animals). Enzymes found in fish include
hydrolases, proteases and carbohydrases, listed in order of their abundance (Kim
et al. 2002). Algae are also a promising aquatic-sourced alternative for enzyme production. Algae have the ability to break down a wide range of compounds in the
water and use for energy and carbon production. They can take up nutrients from
water and break down carbon compounds. Photosynthesizing algae also make use of
light to power their growth and energy production. They also have biochemical processes in place to protect from pathogens and environment. To do all these, they make
use of enzymes which facilitate their synthesis. It is therefore expected that when
they are harvested some of these enzymes remain within their biomass. Enzymes
present in algae include carboxylase, oxygenase, dehydrogenase, amylase, cellulase,
lipase, sucrose, phosphate, sulfatase, glycogen synthase, phosphatase, starch synthase, glycolate oxidase and peroxidases. All of these serve specific roles in the algae
(Mogharabi and Faramarzi 2016). For example, superperoxide dismutase which is
found in red algae as well as blue-green algae catalyzes the process which defends
the algae from oxygen toxicity. The amount and composition of the enzymes present
vary for different species of algae.
A wide variety of microorganisms exist in different zones of the aquatic environment. These microorganisms have adapted to survive in a range of conditions.
Examples are microorganisms which exist in the underwater volcanoes of the deep
sea where temperatures could be over 100 °C, while other bacteria are found in higher
depths in waters where the temperatures can be as low as −2 °C in, for example, the
Antarctic waters. The relatively less complex structure of the microorganisms makes
them an attractive option for commercial enzyme production. This also allows the
possibility of genetically engineering microorganisms to produce desired enzymes,
11 Enzymes
environmental implications of their production process, biochemistry, as well as the
demand and commercial production are also discussed with the aim of giving the
reader an understanding of the integral role of these classes of aquatic polymers
within the natural world and in industry.
The diversity of organisms present in the aquatic environment and the intricate
food chain makes it a promising source of enzyme-producing organisms. The large
variety of organisms present in the aquatic environment, some of which feed on
other organisms and non-living matter means these organisms in the aquatic environment produce the enzymes necessary to catalyze a wide variety of biological
processes. Organisms including fish which produce proteolytic enzymes for breaking down proteins in the other sea life they feed on, marine bacteria which produce
chitinolytic enzymes for breaking down chitins in the shells of crustaceans, and
amphipods inhabiting the Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part
of the ocean, produce cellulases and amylases that allow them to digest wood from
shipwreck and fallen plants as a means of surviving in the deep dark part of the sea
where food is extremely scarce at extreme temperature and pressure (Kobayashi et al.
2012). Other examples of enzymes obtained from aquatic sources include trypsin,
pepsin, lipase, collagenase and chymotrypsin.
Fish, particularly the internal organs of fish, fish viscera, is one of the most widely
explored aquatic sources of enzymes as an alternative to the conventional sources
(microorganisms, terrestrial plants and animals). Enzymes found in fish include
hydrolases, proteases and carbohydrases, listed in order of their abundance (Kim
et al. 2002). Algae are also a promising aquatic-sourced alternative for enzyme production. Algae have the ability to break down a wide range of compounds in the
water and use for energy and carbon production. They can take up nutrients from
water and break down carbon compounds. Photosynthesizing algae also make use of
light to power their growth and energy production. They also have biochemical processes in place to protect from pathogens and environment. To do all these, they make
use of enzymes which facilitate their synthesis. It is therefore expected that when
they are harvested some of these enzymes remain within their biomass. Enzymes
present in algae include carboxylase, oxygenase, dehydrogenase, amylase, cellulase,
lipase, sucrose, phosphate, sulfatase, glycogen synthase, phosphatase, starch synthase, glycolate oxidase and peroxidases. All of these serve specific roles in the algae
(Mogharabi and Faramarzi 2016). For example, superperoxide dismutase which is
found in red algae as well as blue-green algae catalyzes the process which defends
the algae from oxygen toxicity. The amount and composition of the enzymes present
vary for different species of algae.
A wide variety of microorganisms exist in different zones of the aquatic environment. These microorganisms have adapted to survive in a range of conditions.
Examples are microorganisms which exist in the underwater volcanoes of the deep
sea where temperatures could be over 100 °C, while other bacteria are found in higher
depths in waters where the temperatures can be as low as −2 °C in, for example, the
Antarctic waters. The relatively less complex structure of the microorganisms makes
them an attractive option for commercial enzyme production. This also allows the
possibility of genetically engineering microorganisms to produce desired enzymes,