Importance of enzyme specificity and stability for the application of proteases in greener industrial processing- a review

Industries are in great need for process-apt proteases due to environmental concerns. But the major bottlenecks in the use of enzymes in industrial processes are their lack of specificity for a particular application on one hand and their insufficient stability on the other. Moreover, the high diversity and complexity of proteases create new challenges on the analytical front necessitating the utilization of distinct techniques. This review paper attempts to provide a comprehensive perspective on the significance of protease specificity and stability with respect to various industrial contexts. An overview of the relevant progressive experimental characterization approaches along with predictive computational tools to profile protease specificity and stability with illustrative examples has also been attempted. Furthermore, it explores the efforts on the utilization of enzyme engineering and immobilization techniques to optimize the performance of industrial proteases based on specific process demands with case studies. Finally, the specific areas warranting attention in their enzyme production sector and the utilization of various technical domains in enzyme technology have been highlighted. Thorough characterization of protease specificity and stability is crucial for designing and optimizing industrial process-apt proteases; resulting in improved product quality with enhanced functionality and process efficiency with reduced waste generation and better energy efficiency. Such improved proteases would enable the targeted industries in greening their production methods in a sustainable manner. Concisely, the review highlights the underexplored perspectives of protease specificity and stability in industrial contexts and thereby addressing the gaps in existing literature as well.