256
11 Enzymes
it reduces loss of product and wasted labor. Collagen-degrading enzymes and other
protein-degrading enzymes such as collagenase and pepsin are the enzymes used in
the riddling process for caviar production.
11.8.8 Biomarkers for Environmental Pollution
Measurement
Enzymes from fish can be used as a biomarker to measure exposure to pollutants in
the environment. An example of such an enzyme is cholinesterase which is being
investigated for use as a biomarker to measure exposure of fish to pesticides (Mena
et al. 2014). Pesticides from agricultural activities on land often get into the aquatic
environment and are absorbed by the fish. These fish are then consumed by humans
and could pose severe health threats.
11.8.9 Pharmaceutical Application
The applications of enzymes in pharmaceutical industry are centered around the
ability of these enzymes to break down tissue materials, serve as sites for processes
and induce the destruction of pathogenic organisms. Proteases, for example, due to
their activity in catalyzing the breakdown of the proteins which make up tissue such
as collagen, are used as a mild means of cleaning and removal of dead skin tissue
from wounds (Yaakobi et al. 2007) compared to manually cleaning and removal
of dead tissue from wounds, whereby the mechanical stress on the wound would
cause severe pain and discomfort to the patient. The applications of enzymes in the
pharmaceutical industry extend to other areas such as treatment of cardiovascular
diseases, inflammations and cancer (Preeti et al. 2011). Producing such enzymes
from aquatic sources provides the potential of developing more robust treatment to
address a broader range of diseases and disease-causing organisms. The diversity
of activity and stability of aquatic-sourced enzyme are particularly promising for
developing new ways to counter bacterial resistance to drugs.
11.9 Commercial Production
One of the challenges facing commercial production of enzymes from fish waste is
the level of purity required in enzyme production. This results in a product with high
production cost and where most of the mass is not used. Compared to the part of
the fish which is consumed as food, the crude extracts from fish viscera without the
purification stage have some proteolytic activities which could potentially make them
11 Enzymes
it reduces loss of product and wasted labor. Collagen-degrading enzymes and other
protein-degrading enzymes such as collagenase and pepsin are the enzymes used in
the riddling process for caviar production.
11.8.8 Biomarkers for Environmental Pollution
Measurement
Enzymes from fish can be used as a biomarker to measure exposure to pollutants in
the environment. An example of such an enzyme is cholinesterase which is being
investigated for use as a biomarker to measure exposure of fish to pesticides (Mena
et al. 2014). Pesticides from agricultural activities on land often get into the aquatic
environment and are absorbed by the fish. These fish are then consumed by humans
and could pose severe health threats.
11.8.9 Pharmaceutical Application
The applications of enzymes in pharmaceutical industry are centered around the
ability of these enzymes to break down tissue materials, serve as sites for processes
and induce the destruction of pathogenic organisms. Proteases, for example, due to
their activity in catalyzing the breakdown of the proteins which make up tissue such
as collagen, are used as a mild means of cleaning and removal of dead skin tissue
from wounds (Yaakobi et al. 2007) compared to manually cleaning and removal
of dead tissue from wounds, whereby the mechanical stress on the wound would
cause severe pain and discomfort to the patient. The applications of enzymes in the
pharmaceutical industry extend to other areas such as treatment of cardiovascular
diseases, inflammations and cancer (Preeti et al. 2011). Producing such enzymes
from aquatic sources provides the potential of developing more robust treatment to
address a broader range of diseases and disease-causing organisms. The diversity
of activity and stability of aquatic-sourced enzyme are particularly promising for
developing new ways to counter bacterial resistance to drugs.
11.9 Commercial Production
One of the challenges facing commercial production of enzymes from fish waste is
the level of purity required in enzyme production. This results in a product with high
production cost and where most of the mass is not used. Compared to the part of
the fish which is consumed as food, the crude extracts from fish viscera without the
purification stage have some proteolytic activities which could potentially make them