THERMOZYMES - BIOTECHNOLOGY AND STRUCTURE-FUNCTION-RELATIONSHIPS

Recent findings on the biochemical and molecular features of the follo wing thermozymes are presented, based on their biotechnological use: a lpha-amylase and amylopullulanase, used in starch processing; glucose isomerase, used in sweetener production; alcohol dehydrogenase, used i n chemical synthesis; and alkaline phosphatase, used in diagnostics. T he corresponding genes and recombinant proteins have been characterize d in terms of sequence similarities, specific activities, thermophilic ity, and unfolding kinetics. Site-directed and nested deletion mutagen esis were used to understand structure-function relationships. All the se thermozymes display higher stability and activity than their counte rparts currently used in the biotechnology industry.