Recent Advances in Biological Enzymes from Antarctica: A Comprehensive Narrative Review on Cold-Adapted Enzymes from The Antarctic Environment

Abstract

The continent of Antarctica makes up the majority of the Antarctic area, while the Antarctic region, dominated by the Antarctic ice sheet, is the world's largest piece of ice. It is in the Southern Hemisphere and is distinguished by its extremely low temperatures. Antarctica has no permanent human residents, and it is known as a continent that has been relatively underexplored and is widely regarded by scientists as a natural laboratory. Antarctic organisms have been used to study extremophile enzymes, which are adapted to low-temperature environments. These “cold-adapted enzymes” have evolved to function effectively under extreme conditions.