Question

Name any two enzymes and antibiotics with their microbial source.

Accepted Answer

Enzymes are proteins that act as biocatalysts and are used to hasten biochemical reactions. In living organisms, enzymes play a key role in all metabolic reactions and in maintaining homeostasis. Therefore, these are essential biomolecules.

Microbes synthesise enzymes that can be extracted from their culture media for commercial uses. Some of these are protease, amylase, lipase, invertase, zymase, cellulase, pectinase, streptokinase, etc.

Enzymes are used in many industries and have wide applications.

Textile industry: Improve the quality of the fabrics.

Pulp and paper industry: Biomechanical pulping and bleaching.

Food industry: fermentation processes for the production of bread, wine, beer, etc.

Detergent industry: Lipases have superior cleaning properties, increase brightness and remove oil stains.

Extraction of substances like carotenoids and olive oil.

Enzymes Microbial sources

Streptokinase Haemolytic Streptococci

Invertase Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Antibiotics are secondary metabolites that are produced by bacteria and fungi. The first antibiotic named penicillin is discovered by British physician Dr. Alexander Fleming in the year 1929. Antibiotics are of great therapeutic importance and are widely used in medical treatment for bacterial infections. These are produced in trace amounts, inhibiting the growth of some bacterial species. There are hundreds of antibiotics available today and below are two antibiotics and their microbial sources given:

Antibiotics Microbial sources

Chloromycetin Streptomyces venezuelae

Streptomycin Streptomyces griseus

Maharashtra Board Solutions for Chapter: Enhancement of Food Production, Exercise 11: Exercise

Maharashtra Board Biology Solutions for Exercise - Maharashtra Board Solutions for Chapter: Enhancement of Food Production, Exercise 11: Exercise

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