ENZYMES

Agent Name
ENZYMES
Alternative Name
CLASS
Major Category
Biological Agents
Synonyms
CLASSES; beta-Glucuronidase [9001-45-0]
Category
Enzymes
Sources/Uses
The most commonly used enzyme groups are proteases, amylases, lipases, lysozymes, cellulases, hemicellulases, xylanases, glucoamylases, pectinases, lactases, catalases, phytase (phosphatase), and hyaluronidases. These enzymes are used in the following industries: pharmacy, dairy, bakery, catering/food, animal feed, paper, detergent, and textile. [Reference #1]Enzymes are used in the following industries: Baking (alpha-amylase and proteases); Brewing (amylase, glucanases, proteases); Dairy (rennin, lipases, lactases); Starch (amylases, amyloglucosideases, glucoamylases, glucose isomerase); Paper (amylases, xylanases, cellulases, ligninases); Biofuel (cellulases, ligninases); Rubber (catalase); and Photographic (protease). In addition, enzymes are used in molecular biology (restriction enzymes, DNA ligase, DNA polymerase); contact lens cleaners (proteases); laundry detergents (proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases); meat tenderizers (papain); fruit juices (cellulases, pectinases); and baby foods (trypsin). [Wikipedia]
Comments
Enzymes that cause contact urticaria include alpha-amylase, cellulases, glucoamylase, papain, protease, and xylanase. [Kanerva, p. 221] Allergens that cause asthma, based on "Agents Causing Occupational Asthma with Key References" by Chan-Yeung & Malo. [Malo] All enzymes should be labeled as "may cause sensitization by inhalation." [Reference #1] The most important enzymes in this group are the subtilisins (proteolytic enzymes produced by Bacillus subtilis and used in laundry detergents). The subtilisins are covered separately in this database. Other enzymes which have also caused occupational asthma include papain from papaya, bromelin from pineapple, and trypsin from hogs. Enzymes such as trypsin, papain, pepsin, pancreatin, flaviastase, bromelin, lactase, egg and serratial lysozyme, and serratial peptidase are used in the pharmaceutical industry. 3.9% of 154 hospital workers exposed to empynase (pronase B) developed asthma; Fungal amylase and fungal amyloglucosidase and hemicellulase are used by bakers. Esperase is another enzyme used in the detergent industry. Workers have been exposed to xylanase in the laboratory and pectinase in enzyme factories.
Biomedical References

Exposure Assessment

Adverse Effects

Asthma
Yes

Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: