Fungal beta-1,3-Glucanases: production and biotechnological applications.

β-1,3-Glucanases are enzymes that hydrolyze glycosidic linkages of the β-1,3 type present in β-D-glucans, liberating glucose as the main product. These enzymes are produced by filamentous fungi and yeasts, as well as bacteria and have wide biotechnological applications. The objective of this work was to review the published literature on fungal β-1,3-glucanases, emphasizing their biological functions, some parameters used to determine enzyme activity, the current substrates and culture conditions to produce these hydrolases. Also reported are their applications to obtain bioactive oligosaccharides, to structurally characterize microbial cell walls, their use in biological control of some plant pathogens, as feed additives, and also their addition to wines to improve the organoleptic characteristics.