An updated view on horseradish peroxidases: recombinant production and biotechnological applications

• Published in: Applied microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 99; no. 4; pp. 1611 - 1625
• Main Authors: Krainer, Florian W., Glieder, Anton
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2015; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Armoracia - enzymology; Armoracia - genetics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bioremediation; Biosensors; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Biotechnology - methods; Cancer therapies; Catalysis; Environmental conditions; Enzymes; Flowers & plants; Genetic aspects; Genetic recombination; Histochemistry; Horse-radish; Isoenzymes; Life Sciences; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Microbiology; Mini-Review; Peroxidase; Peroxidases - genetics; Peroxidases - metabolism; Physiological aspects; Recombinant proteins; Recombinant Proteins - genetics; Recombinant Proteins - metabolism; Studies; Recombinant protein production; Diagnostics; Indole-3-acetic acid; Cancer treatment; Biosensor; Horseradish peroxidase; Plant peroxidase
• ISSN: 0175-7598; 1432-0614
• DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-6346-7

Horseradish peroxidase has been the subject of scientific research for centuries. It has been used exhaustively as reporter enzyme in diagnostics and histochemistry and still plays a major role in these applications. Numerous studies have been conducted on the role of horseradish peroxidase in the plant and its catalytic mechanism. However, little progress has been made in its recombinant production. Until now, commercial preparations of horseradish peroxidase are still isolated from plant roots. These preparations are commonly mixtures of various isoenzymes of which only a small fraction has been described so far. The composition of isoenzymes in these mixed isolates is subjected to uncontrollable environmental conditions. Nowadays, horseradish peroxidase regains interest due to its broad applicability in the fields of medicine, life sciences, and biotechnology in cancer therapy, biosensor systems, bioremediation, and biocatalysis. These medically and commercially relevant applications, the recent discovery of new natural isoenzymes with different biochemical properties, as well as the challenges in recombinant production render this enzyme particularly interesting for future biotechnological solutions. Therefore, we reviewed previous studies as well as current developments with biotechnological emphasis on new applications and the major remaining biotechnological challenge—the efficient recombinant production of horseradish peroxidase enzymes.