Short Note on Biotechnological Application of Halophilic Enzymes

Abstract

Evolution of life in extreme environments entails wide adaptations. Amongst these environments, those with high salt concentration are abodes to so-called halophilic microorganisms. The unique key properties of halophilic proteins not only enable them to survive in hostile and precluding environments, but also make their enzymes as precious biocatalysts in pharmaceutical, fine chemical processes, industries, food processing, detergents, waste treatments, etc., where harsh conditions prevent favorable reactions by normal enzymes. Unfortunately, due to lack of deep knowledge and proper equipment, up to know only a limited number of extremozymes have characterized and applied in appropriate industries. Discovery of new extremophiles or genetically engineering of mesophilic enzymes will open new horizons to novel applications of these invaluable enzymes in biotechnology and biotransformation.

Nanohaloarchaea as beneficiaries of xylan degradation by haloarchaea

“…• xylan-degrading halophiles have the potential for biofuel production (Amoozegar et al, 2019;Kasirajan & Maupin-Furlow, 2021), and their xylanases also have applications in pulp and paper production, bioleaching and production of detergents (Javid & Zarei, 2021) or compositing and bioconversion of seaweed wastes (Parab et al, 2017); • it is plausible that polysaccharide-degrading halophiles or their enzymes have value as feed additives to promote digestion in ruminants that live in arid regions (Ghadikolaei et al, 2019); • and to use as soil inocula to help to bring soils into cultivation that are currently marginal due to aridification/salinisation (Timmis & Ramos, 2021).…”

“…In this context, there are still outstanding questions about the degradation of xylan: how much dead plant material is situated in/ subjected to high‐salt conditions; do nanohaloarchaea ever play roles in the purification of brine waters and/or rotting wooden structures; how can theory‐based approaches be utilised to model the implications of climate change on nutrient cycling by halophiles (Hallsworth et al, 2023 ); can nanohaloarchaea (given their intimate dependence on other organisms) act as indicators of pollution by pesticides, wood preservatives or other substances or even as environmental indicators that are pertinent the health of eukaryotes including humans and what—if any—is the commercial potential of nanohaloarchaea or extreme halophilic polysaccharide‐degrading consortia which they reside? Indeed, the biotechnological value of polysaccharide‐degrading halophiles/halophilic communities (including those that degrade xylan) may include: screening of polysaccharide‐degrading halophiles for potentially useful enzymes that can be utilised as stable and functional biocatalysts both in solvent‐based and ionic liquid systems (Dumorné et al, 2017 ; Kasirajan & Maupin‐Furlow, 2021 ; Mesbah & Wiegel, 2017 ); halotolerant and halo(alkalo)philic microbes (including xylan‐degraders) can also be a good source of enzymes that are stable at high temperatures or high pH (Wainø & Ingvorsen, 2003 ; Liao et al, 2018 ; Sun et al, 2021 ); xylan‐degrading halophiles have the potential for biofuel production (Amoozegar et al, 2019 ; Kasirajan & Maupin‐Furlow, 2021 ), and their xylanases also have applications in pulp and paper production, bioleaching and production of detergents (Javid & Zarei, 2021 ) or compositing and bioconversion of seaweed wastes (Parab et al, 2017 ); it is plausible that polysaccharide‐degrading halophiles or their enzymes have value as feed additives to promote digestion in ruminants that live in arid regions (Ghadikolaei et al, 2019 ); and to use as soil inocula to help to bring soils into cultivation that are currently marginal due to aridification/salinisation (Timmis & Ramos, 2021 ). …”

“…xylan‐degrading halophiles have the potential for biofuel production (Amoozegar et al, 2019 ; Kasirajan & Maupin‐Furlow, 2021 ), and their xylanases also have applications in pulp and paper production, bioleaching and production of detergents (Javid & Zarei, 2021 ) or compositing and bioconversion of seaweed wastes (Parab et al, 2017 );…”