Bioprospecting microbial proteases in various industries/sectors

Proteases are significant industrial biocatalysts because they are environmentally favorable and, after being used in industries, tend to reduce toxicity in the atmosphere and can be gained from a wide range of sources like microbes, plants, and animals. Microbial sources of proteases are bacteria and fungi. Microbial proteases are alkaline proteases, acidic proteases, keratin, and metalloprotease, where the classification of protease is based on the information of where their active site is located. So proteases are classified as exopeptidases (aminopeptidases, carboxypeptidases) and endopeptidases (serine proteases, aspartic proteases, cysteine proteases, and metalloproteases). While exopeptidases are responsible for the splitting of specific protein peptide links near the carboxyl or amino-terminal parts of the substrate, endopeptidases break the peptide link in the substrate at a remote location. Proteases are a major group of industrial enzymes because proteases contain groups of enzymes in them, such as proteinases, peptidases, and amidases. Due to their versatility, proteases have multiindustrial applications in the food processing industry, leather making and processing industry, cosmetics industry, detergent manufacturing industry, pharmaceutics, chemical industry, photographic industry, protein hydrolysis, silver recovery, silk degumming, waste management, and making wool. Because of the multiindustrial applications of proteases, protein-engineered approaches are used for improving the catalytic properties and thermostability of proteases; so, immobilization of proteases is a promising way of using enzymes in industrial biocatalysis in a convenient and economical manner. Finally, the options for improving the catalytic characteristics of protease by protein engineering and immobilization are thoroughly examined. In their efforts to meet the ever-increasing demand for protease from industry, the researchers have been driven to seek out new sources of protease enzyme.