Biotransformations using cutinase

There is a growing interest in sustainable and environmentallyfriendly solutions for the industrial manufacturing of chemicals to replace non-renewable fossil fuel-based feedstocks. Biotransformations provide an alternative methodology to traditional reactions by taking advantage of the biochemical diversity of microorganisms to provide a chemo-, regio- and enantioselectivity, which are not always available via traditional synthetic approaches. Cutinases are enzymes secreted from phytopathogens and have been proven to be useful for several different biotransformations. This review will investigate the structure and function of cutinase. Further, it will detail cutinase activity towards both natural and non-natural substrates as well as methods employed to impart stability. Finally, we will describe the different role that cutinase has played in biotransformation reactions for biotechnology applications.