Microbial Phytase - Catalysis

What is Microbial Phytase?

Microbial phytase is an enzyme produced by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and yeast. This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate) into inorganic phosphate and lower forms of myo-inositol phosphates.

Why is Microbial Phytase Important?

In nature, phytic acid is the primary storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues, especially seeds and grains. However, many animals, including poultry and swine, lack the enzyme needed to digest phytic acid. Consequently, the phosphorus in phytic acid is not bioavailable to them. Microbial phytase supplements are added to animal feed to break down phytic acid, making phosphorus available for absorption and reducing the need for inorganic phosphorus supplements.

How Does Microbial Phytase Function as a Catalyst?

Microbial phytase functions as a biocatalyst by accelerating the hydrolysis of phytic acid. The enzyme's active site interacts with the substrate (phytic acid), lowering the activation energy required for the reaction. This results in a more efficient conversion of phytic acid to usable inorganic phosphate and other less phosphorylated derivatives.

What Are the Benefits of Using Microbial Phytase in Animal Feed?

Enhanced phosphorus availability: Phytase increases the bioavailability of phosphorus, which is crucial for animal growth and bone development.
Environmental impact: By improving phosphorus absorption, phytase reduces the excretion of undigested phosphorus into the environment, mitigating water pollution.
Cost efficiency: The use of phytase can lower the need for inorganic phosphorus supplements, resulting in cost savings for feed producers.

What Are the Sources of Microbial Phytase?

Microbial phytase is commonly derived from various microorganisms such as Aspergillus niger, Peniophora lycii, and Escherichia coli. These organisms are cultivated and the phytase enzyme is extracted and purified for use in commercial applications.

What Challenges Exist in the Use of Microbial Phytase?

Despite its benefits, the use of microbial phytase faces several challenges. These include enzyme stability under varying pH and temperature conditions, the cost of enzyme production, and the potential for allergenic reactions in some animal species. Ongoing research aims to develop more robust and cost-effective phytase variants to overcome these challenges.

Future Directions in Microbial Phytase Research

The future of microbial phytase research is focused on enzyme engineering to enhance stability and activity, as well as the discovery of novel phytase-producing microorganisms. Advances in biotechnology and genetic engineering are expected to play a significant role in developing next-generation phytases with improved properties.

Relevant Publications

Effect of dietary calcium source, exogenous phytase, and formic acid on inositol phosphate degradation, mineral and amino acid digestibility, and microbiota in growing pigs.

Issue Release: 2024

Effect of limestone particle size and microbial phytase on phosphorus and calcium digestion kinetics along the gastrointestinal tract in laying hens.

Issue Release: 2024

Effects of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene microplastics on the soil-rhizosphere-plant system: Phytotoxicity, enzyme activity, and microbial community.

Issue Release: 2024

Optimizing the manure substitution rate based on phosphorus fertilizer to enhance soil phosphorus turnover and root uptake in pepper ().

Issue Release: 2024

Supplemental phosphorus can be completely replaced with microbial phytase in White Leghorn layer diets.

Issue Release: 2024

Review: Aspects of digestibility and requirements for minerals and vitamin D by growing pigs and sows.

Issue Release: 2024

Exploring the biotechnological potential of novel soil-derived sp. and sp. strains using phytate as sole carbon source.

Issue Release: 2024

Effects of enzyme supplementation on growth performance, digestibility of phosphorus, femur parameters and fecal microbiota in growing pigs fed different types of diets.

Issue Release: 2024

Dynamics of bone mineralization in primiparous sows as a function of dietary phosphorus and calcium during lactation.

Issue Release: 2024

Effects of graded levels of dietary microbial 6-phytase on performance, intestinal histomorphology, caecal microbial population and short-chain fatty acid composition of Lohmann white-classics.

Issue Release: 2024

Review on Desirable Microbial Phytases as a Poultry Feed Additive: Their Sources, Production, Enzymatic Evaluation, Market Size, and Regulation.

Issue Release: 2024

Digestion and utilization of plant-based diets by transgenic pigs secreting β-glucanase, xylanase, and phytase in their salivary glands.

Issue Release: 2023

Phytate-Induced Dose-Response Auto-Activation of Enzyme in Commercial Recombinant Phytase From .

Issue Release: 2023

Effects of Salinity on Assembly Characteristics and Function of Microbial Communities in the Phyllosphere and Rhizosphere of Salt-Tolerant Mangrove Species.

Issue Release: 2023

In-depth characterization of phytase-producing plant growth promotion bacteria isolated in alpine grassland of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Issue Release: 2023

Microbial Phytase in a Diet with Lupine and Extruded Full-Fat Soya Seeds Affects the Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality, and Bone Mineralization of Fatteners.

Issue Release: 2023

Effect of a biosynthetic bacterial 6-phytase on the digestibility of phosphorus and phytate in mid-lactating dairy cows.

Issue Release: 2023

Metagenomic Analysis of Bacterial Community and Isolation of Representative Strains from Vranjska Banja Hot Spring, Serbia.

Issue Release: 2023

Fertilization and cultivation management promotes soil phosphorus availability by enhancing soil P-cycling enzymes and the phosphatase encoding genes in bulk and rhizosphere soil of a maize crop in sloping cropland.

Issue Release: 2023

Isolation and in-vitro characterization of extracellular phytase producing bacterial isolates for potential application in poultry feed.

Issue Release: 2023

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