Biotechnology – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

1.5 Present and future trends in biotechnology

During the twentieth century humankind has harnessed microorganisms to produce useful biochemical including antibiotics, vitamins, amino acids, flavors and colors, as well as specific proteins (Carlier 2001). Some of these proteins have important medical uses such as insulin, human growth hormone and blood factors like erythropoietin. In fact, manufacturers have developed a series of proven, safe, microbial hosts for use in the production of several enzymes (Warke and Chandratre 2003). Further, enzymes that have not been readily available in adequate quantity can be produced using technology. This in turn has opened up important applications beneficial to humankind. Additionally, modern techniques are leading to the development of tailored enzymes with optimized functional properties specific for their intended use. An example of this is the modification in specific proteases so that they work more efficiently in the alkaline environment of detergent formulations. As a result, less of the modified protease is needed to deliver equivalent cleaning power, while using fewer resources during the manufacturing process.

The microbial cell, a bacterium, yeast, or mold, is the key instrument in many enzyme production processes. To optimize the microbial strains for production of the desired enzyme, the strains genetic properties are often modified either through natural evolution or through classical breeding and selection techniques; these classical techniques have been used for decades to improve microbial production strains. The precise methods of genetic modification have been developed. The methods, sometimes termed genetic engineering, are based on processes occurring in nature - the transfer of genes between different cells.

Scientists to transfer genetic material between cells from the same or different species, microorganisms such as yeasts, molds and bacteria with new or improved properties for industrial applications can be developed. In nature, genetic modification has been occurring since life began. Such genetic changes are generally random, with a natural selection process favoring the changes best adapted for survival. Using this process, animal, plant and microbial breeders have likewise selected individuals within a species with desired characteristics for further propagation.

Using the tools of modern biotechnology, modifications can now be made more precisely and with much less chance of developing unwanted secondary changes that could potentially have undesired effects. In nature and in our production systems, microbes do not express only single enzymes. Rather, each microbial cell has the genetic nature to produce many different enzymes. Frequently, only one of these enzyme activities is needed for a specific application and the side activities are removed or substantially reduced during the recovery process. Often, these side activities are unwanted and may even be detrimental to the final use. Additionally, scientists are now able to discover and/or evolve enzymes that will catalyze pure compounds for applications including textile wet processing such as enzymatic desizing with alpha amylase, bioscouring with pectinase, protease, lipase and cellulase enzymes, binary and mixed enzymatic system, and biopolishing with cellulase enzymes, lipase enzyme for improving hydrophilic nature of polyester fibre both greatly reducing unwanted byproduct production as well as making the target product potentially safer and more effective (Buschie-Diller et al 1994).

Modern biotechnology is one tool that can help meet the challenge this growth poses and also contributed to (a) ecofriendly environment (b) safety and health, (c) reduced water demand in manufacturing processes, (e) reduced industrial waste and (f) aided in pollution remediation. Enzymes produced using modern biotechnology contributes to this effort by assuring the availability of safe, pure enzymes that replace harsh chemical processes (reducing energy consumption and environmental burden). Modern tools of biotechnology, enzymes from nature can be accessed which are sufficiently robust to be useful at extremes of pH and temperature and thus hold great promise for replacing certain chemical processes with much cleaner protein-catalyzed processes (Gubitz and Cavaco-Paulo 2001). Just as exciting, these new enzymes can make the dream of converting waste biomass to useful energy an economic reality. Overall, the use of modern biotechnology for enzyme production can have a major impact on improving the cost and quality of products at the same time working towards sustainability.

Enzymes have applications in many fields, including organic synthesis, clinical analysis, textile processes, and finishing, pharmaceuticals, detergents, food production and fermentation. The application of enzymes to organic synthesis is currently attracting more and more attention. The discovery of new microbial enzymes through extensive and persistent screening will open new, simple routes for synthetic processes and consequently, new ways to solve environmental problems (Calafell et al 2005).

Research on enzyme systems for textile processing and finishing has mainly focused on amylases and cellulases. However, recent biotechnology and genetic engineering advances have opened opportunities for successful applications of other enzyme systems, such as lipases, xylanases, laccases, proteases and pectinases (Emilla Csiszar et al 1998). Today, enzymes can be customized for specific target areas; for example, enzymatic degumming of silk, bioscouring of cotton textiles and antifelting and softening of wool. The basic mechanisms involving enzyme systems and interactions with textile substrates are likely noticed. Using several enzyme systems and application conditions, few researchers are being involved in studying the fibre/enzyme interactions and the compatibility of enzymes in combination (Gisela Buschle-Diller, and S. Haig Zeronian 1998).

Biotechnology offers an increasing potential for the production of goods to meet various human needs. In enzyme technology, a subfield of biotechnology, new processes have been and are being developed to manufacture both bulk and high value added products utilizing enzymes as biocatalysts (Tzanko et al 2002). Enzymes are also used to provide services, as in washing and environmental processes, or for analytical and diagnostic purposes. The driving force in the development of enzyme technology, both in academia and industry, has been and will continue to be:

The development of new and better products, processes and services to meet these needs; and/or

The improvement of processes to produce existing products from new raw materials as biomass.

Enzymes from nature can be accessed which are sufficiently robust to be useful at extremes of pH and temperature and thus hold great promise for replacing certain chemical processes with much cleaner protein-catalyzed processes (Csiszar et al 2001). These new enzymes can make the dream of converting waste biomass to useful energy an economic reality. Overall, the use of modern biotechnology for enzyme production can have a major impact on improving the cost and quality of products at the same time working towards sustainability.

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Biotechnology - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics