Microbial carboxylic ester hydrolases (EC 3.1.1) in food biotechnology

Abstract

Ester linkages between carboxylic acid groups and hydroxyl groups are basic to the structure of carboxyesters and lipids, and occur commonly as modifications of polysaccharide molecules. Microorganisms produce enzymes which hydrolyse the carboxylic ester linkages in substrates which are being utilized for growth. Such esterase reactions are frequently easily reversible, depending on the concentration of reactants or availability of water. The importance of esters as flavour compounds has resulted in the selection of yeast strains which produce esters in beverage fermentation. The synthetic potential of triacylglycerol lipases (EC 3.1.1.3) has been exploited by use of the purified enzymes in environments of low water activity. The techniques of molecular biology facilitate analysis of the homology between carboxylesterase enzymes and a detailed knowledge of structure and specificity provides the opportunity to modify enzymes to suit particular applications in biotechnology.Esterase activity can be assayed conveniently by using synthetic chromogenic esters of naphthol or nitrophenol. Naphthyl and nitrophenyl acetates are readily hydrolysed by a wide range of enzymes including lipases (Hofelmann et al. 1985; Brahimi-Horn et al.

Purification and Properties of an Esterase from the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Identification of the Encoding Gene

“…Esterases catalyze the hydrolysis of aliphatic and aromatic esters and have been widely studied because of their metabolic functions (29), their utility in flavor development (11), and their role in the breakdown of insecticides (10).…”

The Control of Microbiological Problems∗∗Some excerpts taken from Bajpai P (2012). Biotechnology for Pulp and Paper Processing with kind permission from Springer Science1Business Media.

“…Several fungi can degrade complex plant cell-wall material, by secreting a large variety of enzymes. This versatility makes commercial polysaccharide-degrading enzyme mixtures have a widespread use in multiple fields, such as fruit processing (McKay, 1993) or wastewater treatment (Wesenberg et al, 2003). They could also be used to degrade bacterial biofilm matrices or prevent and control the formation of biofilm in the piping system of the paper mill wastewater.…”

Purification and properties of three esterases from Brevibacterium sp. R312

“…Esterases which catalyse the hydrolysis of a large number of aliphatic and aromatic esters have been studied for their potential in developing flavour in foodstuffs (McKay 1993). These enzymes are widely distributed in various living organisms.…”