Introduction to Enzyme Technology in Polymer Science

Enzyme technology has significantly expanded in scope and impact over the past ten years. Historically, the specificity, high substrate turnover rates, and the ability to function under mild conditions have provided the impetus for enzyme utilization in a wide range of reactions. The most common examples of uses for enzymes in industry have been in food, pharmaceutical, detergent and textile processes. While these traditional uses of enzymes have sustained a vibrant scientific and technology community, recent advances in a number of areas suggest that an improved fundamental understanding of enzyme mechanisms, as well as new opportunities for applications for enzymes, are on the horizon. Illustrative examples of important recent advances in enzyme technology include: advancements in rapid screening and molecular evolution methods, new avenues for 'biomining' to obtain novel enzymes, genetic material from diverse and extreme environments, observations on reaction equilibria in nontraditional environments, and the push toward 'green chemistries'.