International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Sep 2023)

Analyzing Current Trends and Possible Strategies to Improve Sucrose Isomerases’ Thermostability

  • Amado Javier Sardiña-Peña,
  • Liber Mesa-Ramos,
  • Blanca Flor Iglesias-Figueroa,
  • Lourdes Ballinas-Casarrubias,
  • Tania Samanta Siqueiros-Cendón,
  • Edward Alexander Espinoza-Sánchez,
  • Norma Rosario Flores-Holguín,
  • Sigifredo Arévalo-Gallegos,
  • Quintín Rascón-Cruz

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914513
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 19
p. 14513

Abstract

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Due to their ability to produce isomaltulose, sucrose isomerases are enzymes that have caught the attention of researchers and entrepreneurs since the 1950s. However, their low activity and stability at temperatures above 40 °C have been a bottleneck for their industrial application. Specifically, the instability of these enzymes has been a challenge when it comes to their use for the synthesis and manufacturing of chemicals on a practical scale. This is because industrial processes often require biocatalysts that can withstand harsh reaction conditions, like high temperatures. Since the 1980s, there have been significant advancements in the thermal stabilization engineering of enzymes. Based on the literature from the past few decades and the latest achievements in protein engineering, this article systematically describes the strategies used to enhance the thermal stability of sucrose isomerases. Additionally, from a theoretical perspective, we discuss other potential mechanisms that could be used for this purpose.

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