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Biotechnological applications and potential of fungal feruloyl esterases based on prevalence, classification and biochemical diversity

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Abstract

Feruloyl esterases are part of the enzymatic spectrum employed by fungi and other microorganisms to degrade plant polysaccharides. They release ferulic acid and other aromatic acids from these polymeric structures and have received an increasing interest in industrial applications such as in the food, pulp and paper and bio-fuel industries. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on fungal feruloyl esterases focussing in particular on the differences in substrate specificity, regulation of their production, prevalence of these enzymes in fungal genomes and industrial applications.

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Acknowledgements

R.P. de Vries was supported by The Netherlands Technology Foundation (STW) VIDI project UGC.7063.

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  1. Etienne G. J. Danchin

    Present address: UMR INRA-CNRS-UNSA, Plant-Microbe Interactions and Plant Health 400, Route des Chappes BP 167, 06903, Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité Génie Microbiologique et Enzymatique, SupAgro-INRA, Bâtiment 32, 2 place Pierre Viala, 34060, Montpellier, France

    Isabelle Benoit

  2. Architecture et Fonction des Macromolecules Biologiques, UMR6098 CNRS, Universites Aix-Marseille I & II, Case 932, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille cedex 9, France

    Etienne G. J. Danchin

  3. Microbiology, Science Faculty, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584, CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Robert-Jan Bleichrodt & Ronald P. de Vries

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  1. Isabelle Benoit
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  2. Etienne G. J. Danchin
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Correspondence to Ronald P. de Vries.

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Benoit, I., Danchin, E.G.J., Bleichrodt, RJ. et al. Biotechnological applications and potential of fungal feruloyl esterases based on prevalence, classification and biochemical diversity. Biotechnol Lett 30, 387–396 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-007-9564-6

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