角质酶(EC3.1.1.74)是一种可以降解角质并产生大量脂肪酸单体的水解酶。角质酶是一种多功能酶,可水解可溶性酯、不溶性甘油三酯和各种聚酯,同时还能催化酸与醇的酯化、脂肪酸盐与醇的转酯化反应,因此在食品工业、化工工业等诸多领域都具有广泛的应用。近年来研究发现,角质酶可实现棉纤维的生物精练和合成纤维的生物改性,是推动纺织工业清洁生产的关键酶制剂。
Cutinase (EC 3.1.1.74) is a kind of hydrolase capable of catalyzing the cleavage of ester bonds of cutin to release fatty acids.Cutinase displayed hydrolytic activity not only toward cutin but also a variety of soluble synthetic esters,insoluble triglycerides and polyesters.Besides its hydrolytic activity,cutinase also showed synthetic activity and transester activity.Therefore,cutinase was evaluated as a versatile lipolytic enzyme used in food and chemical industry.Recently,it is found that cutinase has potential use in cotton bio-scouring and syiathetic fibers modification. Cutinase is the most important enzyme in clean production of textile industry.