Many important industrial enzymes use cofactors to catalyze reactions.
Today, Novo-Nordisk produces half the world's industrial enzymes - those that are mass produced in a factory for commercial use.
Still, the market for industrial enzymes is less than $2 billion a year.
The company believes that enzymes that can survive harsh conditions make better starting points for evolving industrial enzymes.
One goal is industrial enzymes that last longer in high temperatures.
Typical industrial enzymes used plant and animal extracts, but this was later substituted by microbial enzymes.
Genencor is a leading producer of industrial enzymes and low-priced bulk protein.
While the technique is still in the early stages of development, it could one day turn farm animals into living factories, producing pharmaceuticals, industrial enzymes and food additives.
It also accepts contract researches on the production and application of industrial enzymes.
"History of industrial enzymes", Article about the history of industrial enzymes from the late 1900s to the present times.
