Antarctic Yeasts as a Source of Enzymes for Biotechnological Applications

Abstract

Psychrophilic and psychrotrophic yeasts able to live in extremely cold environments like Antarctica produce cold-active enzymes as part of their metabolic adaptation mechanisms. Some of these enzymes could be used for industrial and biotechnological applications requiring high activity at mild/cold temperatures or a fast inactivation by heat. In this chapter, the basic principles for screening of cold-active enzymes and their potential industrial applications (textiles, food and dairy products, brewing and wine industry, laundry, etc) are presented. When it comes to the search of yeasts with cold-enzymes production, Antarctica is one of the most promised environments to work in. Cold-active hydrolytic enzymes from Antarctic yeasts such as lipases, proteases, cellulases and amylases are mentioned in this chapter. Also pectinolytic, lignocellulolytic and oil-related (lipase and esterase) enzymes produced by these microorganisms are presented, focusing on yeasts isolation, enzymes producers screening, and purification and characterization of specific col-active enzymes. The near future should find us discussing the regulation about the use of Antarctic yeast as a source of cold enzymes and, once this point be clarified and approved by the international forums on Antarctic activities regulation, the development and scaling up of these biological products may be addressed.