Abstract
Enzymes are biocatalysts produced by living cells to bring about specific biochemical reactions generally forming parts of the metabolic processes of the cells. Enzymes are highly specific in their action on substrates and often many different enzymes are required to bring about, by concerted action, the sequence of metabolic reactions performed by the living cell. All enzymes which have been purified are protein in nature, and may or may not possess a non protein prosthetic group. Enzymes occur in every living cell, hence in all microorganisms. Each single strain of organism produces a large number of enzymes. But the absolute and relative amounts of the various individual enzymes produced vary markedly between species and even between strains of the same species. Hence, it is customary to select strains for the commercial production of specific enzymes which have the capacity for producing highest amounts of the particular enzymes desired. Microbial enzymes have well-known applications as biocatalysts in several areas of industry, such as biotechnology, agriculture and pharmaceuticals, etc.
