| abstract |
The present invention relates to enzymes having catalytic activity at a pH below 5.0. The present invention provides hydrolyzing enzymes obtainable from archaeobacteria, in detail to hydrolytic enzymes obtainable from the archaeobacterium Ferroplasma acidiphilum. In general, the present invention provides enzymes which are active and stable at acidic pH values, especially at pH values from 1 to 4, especially in the range of pH 2 to 3, obtainable from Ferroplasma acidiphilum, especially to an esterase, glycosidases and a DNA ligase. In addition to stability and activity at low pH values, the enzymes according to the present invention are all dependent on Fe2+ for their catalytic activity. |