ENZYMES FROM ACTINOMYCETES: A LOOK AT THEIR CATALYTIC ROLES AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL USES IN INDUSTRY

Actinomycetes are Gram-positive, filamentous bacteria that are abundant in soil, plant tissues, and marine habitats. They are classified as phylum Actinobacteria. They are crucial to ecosystem nutrient recycling because of the roles they play in breaking down complex organic compounds. Many different industries rely on the valuable extracellular enzymes produced by actinomycetes. These enzymes like cellulases, proteases, amylases, lipases, xylanases, chitinases, cutinases, and pectinases break down organic materials and have many different uses, including in food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, detergents, pulp and paper, agriculture, biorefineries. The secretion of various hydrolytic and protease enzymes is a characteristic of Streptomycetes. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is another common cancer treated using microbial L-asparaginase, which is made by a number of actinomycetes. There is promising evidence that actinomycetes found in harsh conditions can produce new enzymes that have important industrial uses.