What is the purpose of phytase?

Phytase is a natural chemical found in animals, plants, and microbes like bacteria. It helps to break down another chemical called phytic acid. Phytic acid can bind to important minerals like iron and zinc. Breaking down phytic acid helps to release iron and zinc so that the body can absorb them better.

What are phytase enzymes?

Phytases are a class of enzymes that catalyze the removal of phosphate from either phytic acid or phytate (salt form) and can be classified as histidine acid phosphatases (HAPs), β-propeller phytase (or alkaline phytase), purple acid phytase, or protein tyrosine phosphatase.

What nutrient does phytase enzyme works on?

Phytase is an enzyme that increases the digestibility of phytate phosphorus, which improves the overall availability of dietary phosphorus. The use of this enzyme as a feed additive in swine diets reduces the requirement for inorganic phosphorus supplementation.

What is the significance of phytase production in transgenic plants?

Transgenic plants expressing adequate phytase could replace additional supplementation of P to monogastric animals as well as it would make P accessible to plant from soil containing phytate-P complex.

Do humans need phytase?

Thus, phytases have an important application in human nutrition both for degradation of phytate during food processing and in the gastrointestinal tract.

Why did they use phytase in the research?

Research is currently centered on utilizing phytase to allow producers in this industry to switch to lower-cost plant protein in their feed formulations. Development of a phytase for this application could significantly lower production costs.

Where is phytase found?

Phytase is produced by bacteria found in the gut of ruminant animals (cattle, sheep) making it possible for them to use the phytic acid found in grains as a source of phosphorus. Non-ruminants (monogastric animals) like human beings, dogs, pigs, birds, etc.

What is phytate and phytase?

Phytate is the primary storage form of both phosphate and inositol in plant seeds. Processing techniques, such as soaking, germination, malting and fermentation, reduce phytate content by increasing activity of naturally present phytase. Supplementation of phytase in diets results in increase in mineral absorption.

What foods contain phytase?

Foods With Phytic Acid

• Beans. Most beans and legumes contain a high amount of phytic acid.
• Seeds. When a plant is ripening, phytate rapidly accumulates in its seeds.
• Nuts. Nuts naturally contain a high amount of phytic acid.
• Grains. Grains contain phytic acid, but only if they haven’t been processed.

Where can I find phytase?

Phytase is produced by bacteria found in the gut of ruminant animals (cattle, sheep) making it possible for them to use the phytic acid found in grains as a source of phosphorus.

Where is phytase found in the human body?

Phytase activity was found in human small intestine at low values (30 times less than that in rat tissue and 1000-fold lower than alkaline phosphatase in the same tissue). The activity was greatest in the duodenum and lowest in the ileum.

How do you get phytase enzyme?

Phytase is produced by bacteria found in the gut of ruminant animals (cattle, sheep) making it possible for them to use the phytic acid found in grains as a source of phosphorus. Non-ruminants (monogastric animals) like human beings, dogs, pigs, birds, etc. do not produce phytase.