Extremophilic lipases for industrial applications: A general review.

With industrialization and development in modern science enzymes and their applications increased widely. There is always a hunt for new proficient enzymes with novel properties to meet specific needs of various industrial sectors. Along with the high efficiency, the green and eco-friendly side of enzymes attracts human attention, as they form a true answer to counter the hazardous and toxic conventional industrial catalyst. Lipases have always earned industrial attention due to the broad range of hydrolytic and synthetic reactions they catalyse. When these catalytic properties get accompanied by features like temperature stability, pH stability, and solvent stability lipases becomes an appropriate tool for use in many industrial processes. Extremophilic lipases offer the same, thermostable: hot and cold active thermophilic and psychrophilic lipases, acid and alkali resistant and active acidophilic and alkaliphilic lipases, and salt tolerant halophilic lipases form excellent biocatalyst for detergent formulations, biofuel synthesis, ester synthesis, food processing, pharmaceuticals, leather, and paper industry. An interesting application of these lipases is in the bioremediation of lipid waste in harsh environments. The review gives a brief account on various extremophilic lipases with emphasis on thermophilic, psychrophilic, halophilic, alkaliphilic, and acidophilic lipases, their sources, biochemical properties, and potential applications in recent decades. • Extremophilic lipases include hot and cold active thermophilic and psychrophilic lipases, acid and alkali resistant and active acidophilic and alkaliphilic lipases, and salt tolerant halophilic lipases. • Microorganisms as sources of extremophilic lipases and their adaptations. • Extremophilic lipases as catalyst for detergent formulations, biofuel synthesis, ester synthesis, food processing, pharmaceuticals, leather, and paper industry. • Scope of genetic manipulation and continuous production on cheap substrates point towards the biotechnological potency of extremophilic lipases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]