Novel Protease Development for Enhanced Industrial Applications and Stability

Proteases are a cornerstone of enzymology and industrial biotechnology, catalyzing peptide bond hydrolysis and enabling diverse applications in sectors such as detergents, food processing, leather treatment, and pharmaceuticals. The field has witnessed substantial progress in the discovery of proteases from microbial sources, including species like Bacillus zhangzhouensis and various marine bacteria that exhibit superior catalytic potential. Current research underscores the importance of developing robust proteases capable of maintaining high activity and selectivity under challenging industrial conditions such as extreme temperatures, variable pH, and the presence of denaturing agents. However, despite advances in understanding protease mechanisms and functions, the interplay between structural determinants and enzyme stability remains incompletely resolved. Innovative strategies integrating structural biology, bioinformatics, and protein engineering have emerged, but a comprehensive framework for optimizing protease performance and cost-effective production is still lacking.This Research Topic aims to unite efforts focused on the discovery, engineering, and application of proteases with enhanced catalytic efficiency, substrate specificity, and operational stability. It seeks to deepen understanding of the molecular bases underlying enzyme adaptation to extreme environments, enabling rational design and evolution of proteases fit for industrial-scale implementation. Particular emphasis is placed on experimental and computational approaches that bridge fundamental enzymology with applied bioprocess development, as well as on novel biotechnological routes that contribute to sustainable manufacturing processes.To gather further insights into protease improvement and utilization, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• The exploration of novel proteases derived from the microbial world, featuring extremophilic and marine microorganisms as well • Structure–function analysis of protease stability and activity determinants• Protein engineering, site-directed mutagenesis, and directed evolution for protease optimization• Computational modelling and machine learning for enzyme design and predictive biocatalysis• Integration of engineered proteases in industrial workflows and bioprocesses• Developments in the areas of protease immobilization, formulation, and scale-up technologies in relation to advanced industrial applicationsPlease note that Microbiotechnology does not consider descriptive studies that are solely based on amplicon (e.g., 16S rRNA) profiles or comparisons of nucleic acid extracts (e.g., metagenomics), unless they are accompanied by a clear hypothesis and experimentation and provide insight into the microbiological system or process being studied. Topic editors: Shamkant B. Badgujar, Hamilton Cabral, Ravindra H. Patil Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81658/novel-protease-development-for-enhanced-industrial-applications-and-stability