MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, WESTBENGAL-
(Formerly West Bengal University of Technology)
Syllabus of B. Sc. in Biotechnology (Effective from 2023-24 Academic Sessions)-
Module 5:
Enzyme Technology Methods for large scale production of enzymes. Immobilized enzyme and
their comparison with soluble enzymes, Methods for immobilization of enzymes. Immobilized
enzyme reactors. Application of Immobilized and soluble enzyme in health and industry. -(Total
Hours: 8)
Enzymes are the biocatalysts synthesized by living cells. They are complex protein molecules that bring
about chemical reactions concerned with life. It is fortunate that enzymes continue to function (bring out
catalysis) when they are separated from the cells i.e. in vitro. Basically, enzymes are nontoxic and
biodegradable. They can be produced in large amounts by microorganisms for industrial applications.
Enzyme technology broadly involves production, isolation, purification and use of enzymes (in soluble
or immobilized form) for the ultimate benefit of humankind. In addition, recombinant DNA technology
and protein engineering involved in the production of more efficient and useful enzymes are also a part
of enzyme technology.
Commercial Production of Enzymes:
The different organisms and their relative contribution for the production of commercial enzymes
are given below:
Fungi – 60%
Bacteria – 24%
Yeast – 4%
Animal organs and tissues are very good sources for enzymes such as lipases, esterases and
proteases. The enzyme lysozyme is mostly obtained from hen eggs.
Limitations:
There are several drawbacks associated with the manufacture of enzymes from animal and plant
sources. The quantities are limited and there is a wide variation in their distribution. The most
important limitations are the difficulties in isolating, purifying the enzymes, and the cost factor.
Enzymes from microbial sources:
Microorganisms are the most significant and convenient sources of commercial enzymes. They can
be made to produce abundant quantities of enzymes under suitable growth conditions.
Microorganisms can be cultivated by using inexpensive media and production can take place in a
short period.
In addition, it is easy to manipulate microorganisms in genetic engineering techniques to increase
the production of desired enzymes. Recovery, isolation and purification processes are easy with
microbial enzymes than that with animal or plant sources.
In fact, most enzymes of industrial applications have been successfully produced by micro-
organisms.
,Aspergillus niger— A unique organism for production of bulk enzymes:
Among the microorganisms, A. niger (a fungus) occupies a special position for the manufacture of
a large number of enzymes in good quantities. There are well over 40 commercial enzymes that
are conveniently produced by A. niger. These include a-amylase, cellulase, protease, lipase,etc.
The Technology of Enzyme Production—General Considerations:
In general, the techniques employed for microbial production of enzymes are comparable to the
methods used for manufacture of other industrial products .
The salient features are - 1. Selection of organisms
2. Formulation of medium
3. Production process
4. Recovery and purification of enzymes.
An outline of the flow chart for enzyme production by microorganisms is depicted here.
Enzyme Technology: Application and Commercial Production of Enzymes
, Enzymes are the biocatalysts synthesized by living cells. They are complex protein molecules that
bring about chemical reactions concerned with life. It is fortunate that enzymes continue to
function (bring out catalysis) when they are separated from the cells i.e. in vitro. Basically,
enzymes are nontoxic and biodegradable. They can be produced in large amounts by
microorganisms for industrial applications.
Enzyme technology broadly involves production, isolation, purification and use of enzymes (in
soluble or immobilized form) for the ultimate benefit of humankind. In addition, recombinant
DNA technology and protein engineering involved in the production of more efficient and useful
enzymes are also a part of enzyme technology.
The commercial production and use of enzymes is a major part of biotechnology industry. The
specialties like microbiology; chemistry and process engineering, besides biochemistry have
largely contributed for the growth of enzyme technology.
Applications of Enzymes:
Enzymes have wide range of applications. These include their use in food production, food
processing and preservation, washing powders, textile manufacture, leather industry, paper
industry, medical applications, and improvement of environment and in scientific research.
As per recent estimates, a great majority of industrially produced enzymes are useful in processes
related to foods (45%), detergents (35%), textiles (10%) and leather (3%). For details on the
applications of individual enzymes, Tables 21.1-21.3 must be referred.
Commercial Production of Enzymes:
Microbial enzymes have been utilized for many centuries without knowing them fully. The first
enzyme produced industrially was taka-diastase (a fungal amylase) in 1896, in United States. It
was used as a pharmaceutical agent to cure digestive disorders.
Commercial enzymes can be produced from a wide range of biological sources. At present, a great
majority (80%) of them are from microbial sources.
The different organisms and their relative contribution for the production of commercial enzymes
are given below:
Fungi – 60%
Bacteria – 24%
Yeast – 4%
Streptomyces – 2%
Higher animals – 6%
Higher plants – 4%
Limitations:
There are several drawbacks associated with the manufacture of enzymes from animal and plant
sources. The quantities are limited and there is a wide variation in their distribution. The most
important limitations are the difficulties in isolating, purifying the enzymes, and the cost factor. As
regards extraction of industrial enzymes from bovine sources, there is a heavy risk of
contamination with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE is prion disease caused by ingestion
of abnormal proteins). For these reasons, microbial production of enzymes is preferred.
Enzymes from mammalian cell cultures:
(Formerly West Bengal University of Technology)
Syllabus of B. Sc. in Biotechnology (Effective from 2023-24 Academic Sessions)-
Module 5:
Enzyme Technology Methods for large scale production of enzymes. Immobilized enzyme and
their comparison with soluble enzymes, Methods for immobilization of enzymes. Immobilized
enzyme reactors. Application of Immobilized and soluble enzyme in health and industry. -(Total
Hours: 8)
Enzymes are the biocatalysts synthesized by living cells. They are complex protein molecules that bring
about chemical reactions concerned with life. It is fortunate that enzymes continue to function (bring out
catalysis) when they are separated from the cells i.e. in vitro. Basically, enzymes are nontoxic and
biodegradable. They can be produced in large amounts by microorganisms for industrial applications.
Enzyme technology broadly involves production, isolation, purification and use of enzymes (in soluble
or immobilized form) for the ultimate benefit of humankind. In addition, recombinant DNA technology
and protein engineering involved in the production of more efficient and useful enzymes are also a part
of enzyme technology.
Commercial Production of Enzymes:
The different organisms and their relative contribution for the production of commercial enzymes
are given below:
Fungi – 60%
Bacteria – 24%
Yeast – 4%
Animal organs and tissues are very good sources for enzymes such as lipases, esterases and
proteases. The enzyme lysozyme is mostly obtained from hen eggs.
Limitations:
There are several drawbacks associated with the manufacture of enzymes from animal and plant
sources. The quantities are limited and there is a wide variation in their distribution. The most
important limitations are the difficulties in isolating, purifying the enzymes, and the cost factor.
Enzymes from microbial sources:
Microorganisms are the most significant and convenient sources of commercial enzymes. They can
be made to produce abundant quantities of enzymes under suitable growth conditions.
Microorganisms can be cultivated by using inexpensive media and production can take place in a
short period.
In addition, it is easy to manipulate microorganisms in genetic engineering techniques to increase
the production of desired enzymes. Recovery, isolation and purification processes are easy with
microbial enzymes than that with animal or plant sources.
In fact, most enzymes of industrial applications have been successfully produced by micro-
organisms.
,Aspergillus niger— A unique organism for production of bulk enzymes:
Among the microorganisms, A. niger (a fungus) occupies a special position for the manufacture of
a large number of enzymes in good quantities. There are well over 40 commercial enzymes that
are conveniently produced by A. niger. These include a-amylase, cellulase, protease, lipase,etc.
The Technology of Enzyme Production—General Considerations:
In general, the techniques employed for microbial production of enzymes are comparable to the
methods used for manufacture of other industrial products .
The salient features are - 1. Selection of organisms
2. Formulation of medium
3. Production process
4. Recovery and purification of enzymes.
An outline of the flow chart for enzyme production by microorganisms is depicted here.
Enzyme Technology: Application and Commercial Production of Enzymes
, Enzymes are the biocatalysts synthesized by living cells. They are complex protein molecules that
bring about chemical reactions concerned with life. It is fortunate that enzymes continue to
function (bring out catalysis) when they are separated from the cells i.e. in vitro. Basically,
enzymes are nontoxic and biodegradable. They can be produced in large amounts by
microorganisms for industrial applications.
Enzyme technology broadly involves production, isolation, purification and use of enzymes (in
soluble or immobilized form) for the ultimate benefit of humankind. In addition, recombinant
DNA technology and protein engineering involved in the production of more efficient and useful
enzymes are also a part of enzyme technology.
The commercial production and use of enzymes is a major part of biotechnology industry. The
specialties like microbiology; chemistry and process engineering, besides biochemistry have
largely contributed for the growth of enzyme technology.
Applications of Enzymes:
Enzymes have wide range of applications. These include their use in food production, food
processing and preservation, washing powders, textile manufacture, leather industry, paper
industry, medical applications, and improvement of environment and in scientific research.
As per recent estimates, a great majority of industrially produced enzymes are useful in processes
related to foods (45%), detergents (35%), textiles (10%) and leather (3%). For details on the
applications of individual enzymes, Tables 21.1-21.3 must be referred.
Commercial Production of Enzymes:
Microbial enzymes have been utilized for many centuries without knowing them fully. The first
enzyme produced industrially was taka-diastase (a fungal amylase) in 1896, in United States. It
was used as a pharmaceutical agent to cure digestive disorders.
Commercial enzymes can be produced from a wide range of biological sources. At present, a great
majority (80%) of them are from microbial sources.
The different organisms and their relative contribution for the production of commercial enzymes
are given below:
Fungi – 60%
Bacteria – 24%
Yeast – 4%
Streptomyces – 2%
Higher animals – 6%
Higher plants – 4%
Limitations:
There are several drawbacks associated with the manufacture of enzymes from animal and plant
sources. The quantities are limited and there is a wide variation in their distribution. The most
important limitations are the difficulties in isolating, purifying the enzymes, and the cost factor. As
regards extraction of industrial enzymes from bovine sources, there is a heavy risk of
contamination with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE is prion disease caused by ingestion
of abnormal proteins). For these reasons, microbial production of enzymes is preferred.
Enzymes from mammalian cell cultures:
