Methods and substrates for feruloyl esterase activity detection, a review

•Qualitative and quantitative methods for ferulic acid esterase (FAE) determination.•Natural and synthetic substrates for FAEs measurement.•Specificity against different substrates.•High potential in food, paper, fuel ethanol, farming and biosynthesis industries.

Ferulic acid esterases (FAEs) are enzymes with high potential in biochemistry and biotechnology due to its role in the hydroxycinnamic acids liberation from agro industrial waste materials. These enzymes play a key role in the non woody plants delignification, in the saccharification processes, in the increase of waste products digestibility and in the esterification of hydroxycinnamic acids. Because of this, different industries have focused their attention on FAEs to obtain products such as human and animal food, pulp and paper, fuel ethanol and pharmaceutical preparations. The growing importance of FAEs in the industry requires fast, simple and sustainable analytical methods. The aim of this mini review is to provide an updated revision of the available assays and substrates to analyze FAE activity. Qualitative and quantitative methods for the enzyme, substrates and specificity are considered in this compilation.

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