What can feruloyl esterases do for us?

Abstract

The role of feruloyl esterases in plant wall development, in gut health, and in the breakdown of plant biomass for the production of bioactive phytochemicals and biofuel is covered in this review. These enzymes have potential roles in stomatal cell function and the phenolic substitutions and crosslinkages between plant cell wall components. As more plant genomes are sequenced, the role of ferulic acid and feruloyl esterases in planta may be better understood. In human and ruminal digestion, these enzymes are important to de-esterify dietary fibre, releasing hydroxycinnamates and derivatives which have been shown to have positive health effects, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities. They are also involved in colonic fermentation where their extracellular and intracellular activities in the microbiota improve the breakdown of polysaccharides and increase microbial production of short chain fatty acids. Their specificity can also be employed to synthesize bioactive compounds for cosmetic and health applications. The enzymatic disassembly of cereal straws is greatly enhanced when feruloyl esterase activity is present, although the substrate specificity of the esterase appears to have some bearing on its optimal application. The involvement of feruloyl esterases in the improved enzymatic and microbial saccharification of cerealderived material demonstrates a high importance for these enzymes in animal feed preparation and bioalcohol production.

A Lactobacillus plantarum Esterase Active on a Broad Range of Phenolic Esters

“…Feruloyl esterases are the enzymes involved in the release of phenolic compounds from plant cell walls and constitute an interesting group of enzymes with a potentially broad range of applications in the food, fuel, pharmaceutical, and paper pulp industries (10)(11)(12)(13). The potential for feruloyl esterases to be able to open up the plant cell wall is significant for the design of processes for improved biomass utilization (13). Ferulic acid released from the plant cell wall is an effective industrial component by virtue of its antioxidant and photoprotectant properties (11).…”

Applications of Microbial Enzymes in Food Industry

“…Feruloyl esterases, an important group of enzymes from esterase family, break the ester bond between ferulic acid and different polysaccharides in plant cell wall. Since feruloyl esterases hydrolyse lignocellulosic biomass, they are inevitable for waste management (19).…”

Expression of feruloyl esterase A from Aspergillus terreus and its application in biomass degradation

“…Two potential N-glycosylation recognition sites are identified in the AtFaeA based on Asn-Xaa-Thr/Ser as an oligosaccharide acceptor (Fig. 1) [23], which is the same to AfFaeA [4]. However, AtFaeA has 53 potential O-linked glycosylation sites (Thr and Ser), which is more than the potential O-linked glycosylation sites (46 and 49, respectively) of AfFaeA and AnFaeA.…”

“…The enzymes involve in the complete hydrolysis of hemicellulose synergistically with other related enzymes, such as endoxylanase, b-xylosidase, a-L-arabinofuranosidase and a-glucuronidase [2]. In recent years, feruloyl esterases have been focused as a promising biocatalyst in the fields of biofuel production, pharmaceutical synthesis and organic food making [3,4]. To date, tens of FAEs have been confirmed by screening a diversity of microorganisms, which has provided valuable information for its application and directed evolution [5,6].…”