Production and characteristics of cutinases: an interesting alternative for industrial level biocatalysis

Abstract

Cutinases (EC 3.1.1.74) are enzymes that catalyze hydrolysis of lipidic polymer cutin, a structural component of plant cuticles. These enzymes display catalytic properties of esterases and lipases, as they can hydrolyze soluble esters and triacylglycerols, besides the reverse reactions of synthesis in a low-water environment. Such versatility has promoted their application in areas such as the food industry, detergents, biodiesel production, enzymatic degradation of toxic substances and synthetic polymers. Cutinases have been isolated mainly from fungi, being Fusarium solani cutinase the most studied. Nevertheless, there has been an increasing interest in the search of biocatalysts with new interesting properties in the last years, thus cutinases have been isolated and studied from other sources. In this review the classification, structures, sources and production of these enzymes are discussed, and applications in emergent areas are detailed.