Enzymes are nature's machines and play a huge role in all life. They are formed of proteins (joined amino acids) and convert starting materials into products. Their biggest role is to breakdown food in the digestive system to unlock essential nutrients and energy. However they are also found in the mouth, eyes, liver, pancreas, in addition to every single cell is your body!
These machines have been used by humans for thousands of years to curdle milk to produce cheese. For the last 80 years they have played a big role across many industries, including food processing, brewing, baking, distilling, paper manufacturing and cleaning. More recently scientists have started to investigate their biomedical properties to help cure diseases including certain types of cancers.
Enzymes also have excellent green credentials and reduce the carbon footprint in almost all processes compared to conventional synthetic methods. This is because enzymes are highly efficient and can operate a low or ambient temperatures - they have after all evolved over millions of years for specific needs. Enzymes are beginning to play a central role in a more sustainable future, this is perhaps most visible in the production of biofuels from food waste.
Main classes of enzymes:
Proteases - breakdown proteins
Lipases - breakdown fats and lipids
Amylases - breakdown carbohydrates
Glucoamylases - breakdown complex sugars
Catalase - breakdown free radicals
For more information see:
Bell, E.L., Finnigan, W., France, S.P. et al. Biocatalysis. Nat Rev Methods Primers 1, 46 (2021)