Recombinant chimeric enzymes for lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis

Chimeras with improved properties can be designed by synergistically incorporating multiple proteins into one peptide chain. Such design enhances hydrolysis efficiency and lowers enzyme production costs for numerous applications, particularly in the fields of lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis, plant-based industries, food additives, waste treatment, and biofuels. In this minireview, we summarize a brief, common approach to construct recombinant enzymes, especially in the Pichia pastoris host. We present the design strategies and the desired properties of chimeras and provide examples of recent studies in the area of lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis. Subsequently, we describe the progress in structure prediction tools that facilitate the design of chimeric proteins toward identifying the best combinations of fusion partners and linkers.