An Overview of Industrial Enzyme Engineering to Achieve a pH Adaptability-Activity Trade-Off: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Enzyme preparations are highly valued in various industries due to their specificity and eco-friendliness. However, natural enzymes often face challenges in extreme pH conditions due to their narrow optimal pH ranges. This limitation highlights the need for enzyme modification that can expand their pH adaptability, enhance stability and activity across varying pH levels, and ultimately increase their industrial utility. To address these challenges, recent advancements in protein engineering have equipped scientists with powerful tools to tailor enzymatic properties. Techniques such as rational design, directed evolution, and computational biology now allow for the precise manipulation of enzyme structures and their functional dynamics. These strategies aim to bridge the inherent limitations of natural enzymes with the stringent requirements of industrial processes, especially in environments in which pH levels can fluctuate significantly. This article focuses on the field of protein engineering and provides a comprehensive review of the latest advancements in modification strategies for acid-tolerant and alkali-tolerant enzymes. It covers a variety of aspects including sequence-guided bioinformatics analysis, structural modifications, regulation of the endogenous force microenvironment, and surface engineering. This study aims to offer diverse perspectives and technical support to help enzymes adapt to the complex and ever-changing landscape of industrial applications.