Bioprospecting of Multi-tasking Fungi for Therapeutic Applications Volume II
Book Chapter: Bioprospecting of Fungi for Therapeutic Enzymes
Aathimoolam Narayanan, Dharanidharan Murugan, Logeshwaran Selvarasu, Ethiraj Selvarajan, and Kanimozhi Jeyaram*
Abstract
Bioprospecting
of fungi for therapeutic enzymes has emerged as a promising field in
biotechnology, leveraging the diverse enzymatic capabilities of fungi to
address various medical challenges. Fungal enzymes have significant potential
for large-scale production at low cost and with high purity because of their
ability to be produced extracellularly in large amounts. In addition, the
unique properties of fungal enzymes, such as their ability to undergo
post-translational modifications, breakdown of complex substrates, high yield,
stability, robustness, and reduced immunogenicity, make them promise in the
therapeutic field. Enzymatic therapy is a rapidly advancing treatment option
for various diseases, with numerous therapeutic enzymes such as hydrolases
(amylase, protease, lipase, cellulase, etc.), Collagenase, Chitinase,
L-Asparaginase, Laccase, Uricase, which are important for pharmaceutical
applications. This chapter explores the mechanism, status, challenges, and
considerations of fungal enzymes used in thrombolytic, digestive aid, enzyme
replacement therapy (ERT), wound care management, and anti-inflammatory,
anticancer, and antibacterial activities.
Keywords: anticancer, bioprospecting, enzyme replacement
therapy, fungi, therapeutic enzymes.
Figure. Schematic representation of urate oxidase use in patients with gout
Reference:
- Narayanan, A., Murugan, D., Selvarasu, L., Selvarajan, E., Jeyaram, K. (2025). Bioprospecting of Fungi for Therapeutic Enzymes. In: Uppuluri, K.B., Selvasembian, R. (eds) Bioprospecting of Multi-tasking Fungi for Therapeutic Applications. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-2975-6_2
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