Unrevealing the Sources and Catalytic Functions of Phytase with Multipurpose Characteristics

Phytase, a key biocatalyst with multipurpose applied potentialities, and its significant relationship to contemporary industrial apprehensions provide unique physicochemical and catalytic attributes. Owing to the rising research advancement, the convergence of technologies fosters additional merits to this industrially relevant biocatalyst, i.e., phytase. Enriched with multipurpose characteristics, phytase holds a significant global market share expected to reach up to $590 million USD by 2024 compared to its share from $380 million USD in 2019. Major applications of phytase are in the pharmaceutical, food, and feed sectors. Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and mineral availability are vital factors in aquaculture. The manufacturing cost of feed in aquaculture is about 50–80%. Fish meal is a rich protein source; however, plant-based proteins are preferred due to high price issues. Plant-based diets contain antinutritional factors, primarily phytate, and fishes are incapable of metabolizing phytate. About 1% phosphorus (P) is present in the fish meal, which if not digested by fish and remain undigested, causing water pollution. Phytate has unfavorable impacts on fish growth and body composition. Phytate binds with phosphorus in fishes to make phytate-phosphorus complex and make it unavailable for fishes. Phytate also forms complexes commonly with cations such as calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, and so on, limiting the bioavailability of minerals. Phytate forms a bond with trypsin and intervenes with available protein. Phytase enzyme emancipates inorganic phosphorus from phytate when supplemented with plant-based diets. Numerous varieties of stable phytases, handling ease, and resistant to high temperature are discussed herein. The maximum use of phytase in aquaculture nutrition extends to the necessities of economical feed and safety environment. Graphic Abstract