Directed evolution of industrial enzymes: an update.

The use of enzymes in industrial processes can often eliminate the use of high temperatures, organic solvents and extremes of pH, while at the same time offering increased reaction specificity, product purity and reduced environmental impact. The growing use of industrial enzymes is dependent on constant innovation to improve performance and reduce cost. This innovation is driven by a rapidly increasing database of natural enzyme diversity, recombinant DNA and fermentation technologies that allow this diversity to be produced at low cost, and protein modification tools that enable enzymes to be tuned to fit into the industrial marketplace.