Biocatalysis and Enzyme Biotechnology
Biocatalysis involves enzyme catalysis in the living cells and therefore has been the basis of some of the oldest chemical transformations (e.g. brewing and fermentation). The foundation of this subject of biocatalysis was laid by distinguished scientists like Liebig, Pasteur and Emil Fisher, whose pioneering work led to the discovery of enzymes (the biological catalysts), which initiate and accelerate thousands of biochemical reactions in living cells.

These enzymes process reactions which are otherwise not possible under normal conditions found in the cell. For instance, although hydrolysis of starch in a test tube requires strong acidic medium and high temperature (boiling), in the alimentary canal it. is hydrolysed and digested under normal conditions of acidity and temperature. This is made possible by starch hydrolysing enzymes available in the stomach. In fact, almost all biochemical reactions in the cell require one or more enzymes for their completion. Non-enzymatic conversions, though are known, but are very few.

Some current research activities involving enzymatic synthesis. Different aspects of the techniques utilized in enzyme research and their commercial application will be described in this chapter. Enzymes can also be variously modified through enzyme modelling and gene manipulations for a variety of purposes.