Biopharmaceutical applications of α-galactosidases

alpha-Galactosidases are exoglycosidases that are active on galactose-containing side chains in oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, glycolipids, and glycoproteins. alpha-Galactosidases are gaining increased interest in human medicine, especially in the enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry's disease. alpha-Galactosidases with regioselectivity toward alpha-1,3-linked galactose find application in xenotransplantation and blood group transformation. The use of alpha-galactosidases as a therapeutic agent in alleviating the postprandial symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome is much acclaimed. The excellent therapeutic applications of alpha-galactosidases have led to an upwelling of worldwide research interventions to identify novel alpha-galactosidases with improved catalytic efficiency. In addition to these therapeutic applications, alpha-galactosidases also have interesting applications in the industrial sectors like food, feed, probiotics, sugar, and paper pulp. The current review focuses on the diverse therapeutic applications of alpha-galactosidases and their prospects.