Immobilization of lipases on porous polypropylene: Reduction in esterification efficiency at low loading

Rhizomucor miehei, Humicola sp., Rhizopus niveus, and Candida antarctica B lipases were immobilized by physical adsorption onto a macroporous polypropylene support. In an esterification reaction, the enzyme efficiency, and therefore cost-effectiveness, is greatly affected by enzyme loading, with an apparent suppression of efficiency at low lipase loadings for both R. miehei and Humicola sp. lipases. This results in the appearance of a pronounced maximum in the efficiency-loading relationship at approximately 100,000 lipase units (LU)/g for R. miehei lipase (10% of its saturation loading) and at approximately 200,000 LU/g for Humicola sp. lipase (50% of its saturation loading). The other lipases studied do not show similar trends. At low loadings, only a small portion of the surface area is occupied and gives the lipase the opportunity to spread; it is hypothesized that the reduction in efficiency at low loadings is due to a distortion of the active molecular conformation caused by the lipase maximizing its contact with the support as a result of its high affinityfor the support surface. The relationship between efficiency and loading was different for each of the lipases studied, which may reflect both differences in the strength of the affinity of the lipase for the support and in the ease at which the molecular conformation of the lipase can be distorted.     

Hydrolysis of edible oils by lipases immobilized on hydrophobic supports: Effects of internal support structure

The hydrolysis of edible oil by immobilized lipases on novel support materials was investigated. Six hydrophobic polymers were studied with the following techniques: (i) determination of the surface area of each support by BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analysis of nitrogen adsorption isotherms; (ii) electron photomicrography; and (iii) measuring lipase activity by hydrolysis of olive oil with lipase fromCandida cylindracea immobilized on each support. A detailed structural analysis on one support also was carried out by mercury porosimetry. The composition and porosity of a support are more important than the surface area in determining activity for immobilized lipases. Furthermore, having selected the “most efficient” support, five lipases fromC. cylindracea, Rhizomucor miehei, andPseudomonas cepacia, were immobilized, and their hydrolytic activities were determined at several temperatures and pH values with olive oil and beef tallow as substrates in solvent-free systems. For each parameter, twelve successive 2.5-h hydrolysis reactions were conducted on a laboratory-scale under batch conditions. Lipase AY fromC. cylindracea had the highest hydrolytic activity, in the range of 30–50°C at pH 5.5 with olive oil as the substrate. For beef tallow, lipase PS, fromP. cepacia, displayed the highest activity at 50°C and pH 7.     

Synthesis of triacylglycerol containing conjugated linoleic acid by esterification using two blended lipases

We have developed an efficient esterification for the synthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG) containing conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) using a blend of two powdered lipases. Two pairs of blended lipases promoted the esterification. Rhizomucor miehei lipase, plus Alcaligenes sp. lipase and Penicillium cammembertii MAG and DAG lipase plus Alcaligenes sp. lipase were used. At the optmal ratio of two lipases, the content of TAG containing CLA (TAG-CLA) in all glycerols reached 82–83% after 47 h using 1 wt% of lipases. With R. miehei lipase plus Alcaligenes sp. lipase, the reaction time to obtain ca. 60% of TAG-CLA was one-third of that needed with R. miehei lipase alone. The optimal ratio of two lipases differed between these two pairs. The optimal ratio was 70–80 wt% of R. miehei lipase in the last stage of the reaction, whereas it was over a wide range of 10–90 wt% for P. camembertii lipase. In the blend of R. miehei lipase plus Alcaligenes sp. lipase, activity remained very high after 10 cycles of esterification (every 47 h) and could be used in the industrial production of TAG-CLA.     

Full-Press Oil Extraction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cuphea</Emphasis> (PSR23) Seeds

Cuphea PSR23, a semi-domesticated, high-capric-acid hybrid from Cuphea viscosissima × Cuphea lanceolata, is being developed as a potential commercial alternative source of medium-chain fatty acids. The present study evaluated the effects of initial seed moisture and final moisture contents of cooked flaked seed on Cuphea’s pressing characteristics and the quality of the extracted oil. Seeds with 9 and 12% initial moisture contents (MC) were flaked and cooked at different residence times to produce cooked seeds with MC of 3.0–5.5%. Cooked seeds were pressed using a laboratory screw press. Eighty and 84% oil were extracted from cooked seeds with 5.5 and 3.0% MC, respectively. The seeds with 9% initial MC exhibited lower pressing load increase (9.1 per 1% decrease in MC) than the seeds with 12% initial MC (16.4 per 1% decrease in MC). The pressing rate decreased by 3% as the cooked flaked seed MC decreased. The amount of foots in the oil increased from 3 to 6.6% and chlorophyll content increased from 200 to 260 ppm as cooked flaked seed MC decreased from 5.5 to 3.0%. FFA contents were 2.5% for all treatments MC studied. The phosphatide content increased as the cooked flaked seed MC decreased but the amounts were still within the levels of water-degummed oil. This paper may contain brand names that are necessary to report factually on available data; however, the USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of the product, and the use of the name by USDA implies no approval of the product to the exclusion of others that may also be suitable.     

Triglyceride specificity ofCandida cylindracea lipase: Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on resistance of triglyceride to lipase

Tuna oil was hydrolyzed withCandida cylindracea lipase. After 70% hydrolysis of the oil, the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content in the glyceride mixture [a mixture of TG (triglyceride), DG (diglyceride) and MG (monoglyceride)] was twice that of the original oil. DHA-rich TG and DG were observed, but DHA-rich MG was absent.C. cylin-dracea lipase seemed to have a “triglyceride specificity,” and it favors TG without DHA over TG containing DHA. In accordance with this hypothesis, TG containing a mixture of oleic acid (OA) and DHA was synthesized and then hydrolyzed withC. cylindracea lipase. TGs in the hydrolysis product were fractionated and analyzed quantitatively by high-performance liquid chromatography. Four kinds of TGs were obtained. TG with three molecules of OA was hydrolyzed most easily. Increasing the DHA content of TG resulted in less hydrolysis of TG. The results suggested thatC. cylindracea lipase had a TG specificity for the whole structure of TG in preference to the individual ester bonds; OA coexisting with DHA in TG was resistant toC. cylindracea lipase due to the TG structure.     

Production of triglycerides enriched in long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oil

Processes that combine enzymic and physical techniques have been studied for concentrating and separating eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish oil.Candida rugosa lipase was used in hydrolysis reactions to concentrate these acids in the glyceride fraction. By controlling the degree of hydrolysis, two products have been obtained, one enriched in total n-3(∼50%), the other enriched in DHA and depleted in EPA (DHA∼40%, EPA∼7%). The glyceride fraction from these reactions was recovered by evaporation and converted back to triglycerides by partial enzymic hydrolysis, followed by enzymic esterification. Both reactions were carried out withRhizomucor miehei lipase. DHA-depleted free fatty acids from aC. rugosa hydrolysis were fractionated to increase the EPA level (∼30%) and re-esterified to triglycerides by reaction with glycerol andR. miehei.     

Isolation of tocopherol and sterol concentrate from sunflower oil deodorizer distillate

The isolation of tocopherols and sterols together as a concentrate from sunflower oil deodorizer distillate was investigated. The sunflower oil deodorizer distillate was composed of 24.9% unsaponifiable matter with 4.8% tocopherols and 9.7% sterols, 28.8% free fatty acid (FFA) and 46.3% neutral glycerides. The isolation technology included process steps such as biohydrolysis, bioesterification and fractional distillation. The neutral glycerides of the deodorizer distillates were hydrolyzed byCandida cylindracea lipase. The total fatty acids (initial FFA plus FFA from neutral glycerides) were converted into butyl esters withMucor miehei lipase. The esterified product was then fractionally distilled in a Claisen-vigreux flask. The first fraction, which was collected at 180–230°C at 1.00 mm of Hg for 45 min, contained mainly butyl esters, hydrocarbons, oxidized products and some amount of free fatty acids. The fraction collected at 230–260°C at 1.00 mm Hg for 15 min was rich in tocopherols (about 30%) and sterols (about 36%). The overall recovery of tocopherols and sterols after hydrolysis, esterification and distillation were around 70% and 42%, respectively, of the original content in sunflower oil deodorizer distillate.     

Enzymatic enrichment of astaxanthin from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haematococcus pluvialis</Emphasis> cell extracts

An industrially available preparation of astaxanthin (Ax) from Haematococcus pluvialis contained 41.6 wt% acylglycerols and 24.9 wt% FFA in addition to 14.6 wt% Ax, which was a mixture of free and FA ester forms (free Ax/Ax monoesters/Ax diesters=4.9∶80.3∶14.8, by mol). Enrichment of Ax by a two-step process was attempted. The first step was hydrolysis of acylglycerols with Candida rugosa lipase: A mixture of 1.0 kg H. pluvialis cell extracts, 1.0 L water, and 50 U/g-reaction mixture of the lipase was agitated at 30°C for 42 h. The degree of hydrolysis of acylglycerols reached 94.4%, but Ax esters were not hydrolyzed. Removal of FFA from the resulting oil layer by molecular distillation enriched the content of Ax esters to 40.8 wt5 (named Ax40). The second step was enzymatic conversion of Ax esters to free Ax, which successfully proceeded in the presence of ethanol (EtOH). When a mixture of 50.0 g Ax40, 8.2 g EtOH (5 molar equiv. against FA), 58.2 mL water, and 1500 U/g-mixture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipase was stirred at 30°C for 68 h, the free Ax content increased to 89.3 mol%. Free Ax was efficiently recovered by precipitation with n-hexane. The purity of Ax was thereby raised to 70.2 wt% with a 63.9% overall recovery of the initial content in the cell extracts.     

The positional and fatty acid selectivity of oat seed lipase in aqueous emulsions

The positional and fatty acid selectivities of oat (Avena sativa L.) seed lipase (triacylglycerol hydrolase EC 3.1.1.3) were examined. Pure triacylglycerols were used as substrates. The products of lipolysis were examined by thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography. Only symmetrical triacylglycerols were used as substrates; thus potential complications arising from stereobias were avoided. Controls were carried out with a lipase specific for primary positions. The lipase from oat seeds catalyzed the hydrolysis of both primary and secondary esters. When the lipase was tested upon mixtures of homoacid triacylglycerols (triacylglycerols composed of the same three fatty acids), the lipase acted most rapidly upon those containing oleate, elaidate, linoleate and linolenate. Strong intermolecular selectivity against homoacid triacylglycerols containing palmitate, petroselinate and stearate was observed. Comparison of assays performed at 26°C with those performed at 45°C showed that selectivity was temperature-independent. When mixed-acid triacylglycerols containing both oleate and stearate were treated with lipase, intramolecular selectivity was observed, with oleate hydrolysis predominating. From this work and earlier work, it can be concluded that the selectivity exhibited by the oat seed lipase is similar to that of the lipase fromGeotrichum candidum, except that the oat seed lipase attacks elaidate, a fatty acyl group with atrans double bond, whereas theG. candidum lipase strongly discriminates against elaidate.     

Partial purification and properties of lipase from germinating seeds of Jatropha curcas L.

Lipase present in the seeds of Jatropha curcas L. was isolated and some of its properties studied. Lipase activity was detected in both dormant and germinating seeds. The lipase was partially purified using a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation and ultrafiltration, which increased the relative activity of the lipase by 28- and 80-fold, respectively. The lipase hydrolyzed palm kernel, coconut, and olive oils at comparable rates (approximately 5 μg FFA/μg protein/min); palm—Raphia hookeri and Jatropha curcas L.—oils at about twice the rate of the first group of oils; and palm and fish oils at a higher rate than all other oils. The lipase, however, had the highest activity with monoolein. Optimal pH and temperature for maximal lipase activity were 7.5 and 37°C, respectively. The addition of ferric ion (15 mM) to the lipase assay medium caused 90% inhibition of lipase activity, whereas calcium and magnesium ions enhanced lipase activity by 130 and 30%, respectively.     

Selective hydrolysis of borage oil with Candida rugosa lipase: Two factors affecting the reaction

A 46% γ-linolenic acid (GLA)-containing oil was produced by selective hydrolysis of borage oil (GLA content, 22%) at 35°C for 15 h in a mixture containing 50% water and 20 units (U)/g reaction mixture of Candida rugosa lipase. The GLA content was not raised over 46%, even though the hydrolysis extent was increased by extending the reaction time and by using a larger amount of the lipase. However, 49% GLA-containing oil was produced by hydrolysis in a reaction mixture with 90% water. This result suggested that free fatty acids (FFA) that accumulated in the mixture affected the apparent fatty acid specificity of the lipase in the selective hydrolysis and interfered with the increase of the GLA content. To investigate the kinetics of the selective hydrolysis in a mixture without FFA, glycerides containing 22, 35, and 46% GLA were hydrolyzed with Candida lipase. The result showed that the hydrolysis rate decreased with increasing GLA content of glycerides, but that the release rate of GLA did not change. Thus, it was found that the apparent fatty acid specificity of the lipase in the selective hydrolysis was also affected by glyceride structure. When 46% GLA-containing oil was hydrolyzed at 35°C for 15 h in a mixture containing 50% water and 20 U/g of the lipase, GLA content in glycerides was raised to 54% at 20% hydrolysis. Furthermore, GLA content in glycerides was raised to 59% when the hydrolysis extent reached 60% using 200 U/g of the lipase. These results showed that repeated hydrolysis was effective to produce the higher concentration of GLA oil. Because film distillation was found to be extremely effective for separating FFA and glycerides, large-scale hydrolysis of borage oil was attempted. As a result, 1.5 kg of 56% GLA-containing oil was obtained from 7 kg borage oil by repeated reaction.     

Enrichment of arachidonic acid: Selective hydrolysis of a single-cell oil fromMortierella withCandida cylindracea lipase

Three lipases, isolated previously in our laboratory, and a known lipase fromCandida cylindracea were screened for the enrichment of arachidonic acid (AA). The enzyme fromC. cylindracea was the most effective for the production of oil with high concentration of AA. When a single-cell oil fromMortierella alpina, containing 25% AA, was hydrolyzed with this lipase for 16 h at 35°C, the resulting glycerides contained 50% AA at 52% hydrolysis. After this, no further hydrolysis occurred, even with additional lipase. However, when the glycerides were extracted from the hydrolyzate and were hydrolyzed again with new lipase, the resulting oil contained 60% AA, with a recovery of 75% of its initial AA content. Triglycerides were the main components of the resulting oil. The release of each fatty acid from the oil depended on the hydrolysis rate of its ester. The fatty acid, whose ester is the poorest substrate for the enzyme, is concentrated in the glycerides.     

Invert emulsion as a medium for fungal lipase activity

An extracellular lipase from the fungusPythium ultimum was active in an invert [water-in-oil] emulsion consisting of 4% water emulsified into edible oils with taurocholic acid as the surfactant. The pH range for optimum lipolytic activity was 7.5–8.5, and the optimum temperature for activity was 45°C. Specific activity of the purified lipase was 919.5 μmol/min/mg protein in the invert emulsion. Water content of the invert emulsion influenced activity of the lipase differently, depending on the substrate. The rate of olive oil hydrolysis with thePythium lipase decreased with time, possibly due to inactivation of the enzyme and inhibition by free fatty acid products of the reaction. Total hydrolysis of olive oil by thePythium lipase was compared with that by lipases fromCandida rugosa andRhizopus arrhizus in the invert emulsion. Hydrolysis essentially ceased within 24 h or less for the lipases from each source. However, the addition of aqueous solution at 8 h from the beginning of incubation stimulated hydrolysis byC. rugosa andR. arrhizus lipases by 1.8-fold and 2.5-fold, respectively, but not by theP. ultimum lipase, over corresponding controls after 48 h.     

Synthesis of a fatty tetrahydroxyamide using peroxygenase from oat seeds

Prior work has shown that oat (Avena sativa) seeds are a rich source of lipase and peroxygenase. Partial epoxidation of the isobutyl amide derivative of α-linolenic acid with peroxygenase gave N-i-butyl-9, 10–15, 16-diepoxy-12(Z)-octadecenamide, a diepoxide product in which the epoxides reside only at the formerly external double bond positions. No amide hydrolysis occurred during the epoxidation procedure. Hydrolysis of the diepoxide gave N-i-butyl-9, 10,15,16-tetrahydroxy-12 (Z)-octadecenamide, a polyol derivative with relatively high polarity, potentially useful in developing new materials from fats and oils.     

Structured lipids: Lipase-catalyzed interesterification of tricaproin and trilinolein

Structured lipids were synthesized by interesterification of trilinolein and tricaproin with sn-1,3-specific (IM 60) and nonspecific (SP 435) lipases. The interesterification reaction was performed by incubating a 1:2 mole ratio of trilinolein and tricaproin in 3 mL hexane at 45°C for the IM 60 lipase from Rhizomucor miehei, and at 55°C for the SP 435 lipase from Candida antarctica. Reaction products were analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with an evaporative light-scattering detector. The fatty acids at the sn-2 position were identified after pancreatic lipase hydrolysis and analysis with a gas chromatograph. IM 60 lipase produced 53,5 mol% dicaproyllinolein (total carbon number = C33) and 22.2% monocaproyldilinolein (C45). SP 435 lipase produced 41% C33 and 18% C45. When caproic acid was used in place of tricaproin as the acyl donor, the IM 60 lipase produced 62.9% C33. The effects of variation in mole ratio, temperature, added water, solvent polarity, and time course on the interesterification reaction were also investigated. In the absence of organic solvent, IM 60 lipase produced 52.3% C33.     

Soy lecithin-monoester interchange reaction by microbial lipase

Modification of the fatty acid composition of soy lecithin, principally at its 1-position, was investigated by interchange reaction with the methyl ester of individual fatty acids and a lipase as the catalyst. The consequent effect on the surface activity of soy lecithin was also examined. The interchange reaction was carried out by heating a mixture of soy lecithin and methyl ester of a fatty acid at 60°C for 48 h with 10% (by weight of the reactants) Mucor miehei lipase. The lipase was filtered from the reaction mixture, and the product was isolated by combination of acetone extraction, which removed the methyl ester fraction, and by preparative thin-layer chromatography separation. The soy lecithin showed distinct change in its fatty acid composition in the sn-1 position. Capric acid was incorporated by 8.4%, while lauric acid and myristic acid were introduced at 14.1 and 15.7%, respectively. The linolenic acid percentage was increased by about 10 units. The interfacial tension of soy lecithin changed significantly after incorporation of various saturated fatty acids.     

Enzymatic synthesis of high-purity structured lipids with caprylic acid at 1,3-positions and polyunsaturated fatty acid at 2-position

We attempted to synthesize high-purity structured triacylglycerols (TAG) with caprylic acid (CA) at the 1,3-positions and a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) at the 2-position by a two-step enzymatic method. The first step was synthesis of TAG of PUFA (TriP), and the second step was acidolysis of TriP with CA. Candida antarctica lipase was effective for the first reaction. When a reaction medium of PUFA/glycerol (3∶1, mol/mol) and 5% immobilized Candida lipase was mixed for 24 h at 40°C and 15 mm Hg, syntheses of TAG of γ-linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids reached 89, 89, 88, and 83%, respectively. In these reactions, the lipase could be used for at least 10 cycles without significant loss of activity. In the second step, the resulting trieicosapentaenoin was acidolyzed at 30°C for 48h with 15 mol parts CA using 7% of immobilized Rhizopus delemar lipase. The CA content in the acylglycerol fraction reached 40 mol%. To increase the content further, the acylglycerols were extracted from the reaction mixture with n-hexane and were allowed to react again with CA under conditions similar to those of the first acidolysis. After three successive acidolysis reactions, the CA content reached 66 mol%. The content of dicapryloyl-eicosapentaenoyl-glycerol reached 86 wt% of acylglycerols, and the ratio of 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-eicosapentaenoyl-glycerol to 1(3),2-dicapryloyl-3(1)-eicosapentaenoyl-glycerol was 98∶2 (w/w). In this reaction, the lipase could be used for at least 20 cycles without significant loss of activity. Repeated acidolysis of the other TriP with CA under similar conditions synthesized 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-γ-linolenoyl-glycerol, 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-arachidonoyl-glycerol, and 1,3-dicapryloyl-2-docosahexaenoyl-glycerol in yields of 58, 87, and 19 wt%, respectively.     

Characterization of membrane-bound lipase from a thermophilic Rhizopus oryzae isolated from palm oil mill effluent

The characteristics of the membrane-bound lipase from a thermophilic Rhizopus oryzae were studied. The pH and temperature optima for lipase activity were at 7.0 and 37°C, respectively. The enzyme was stable and acidic conditions, retaining more than 80% of its initial activity at pH 4.0 after 30 min incubation. It was stable up to 50°C with 70% of initial activity retained after 3 h incubation. The enzyme is 1,3 specific and exhibits substrate preference. Monoacid triglyceride substrates were hydrolyzed better than methyl esters, polyoxysorbitan and sorbitan substrates.     

Lipase PS-catalyzed transesterification of citronellyl butyrate and geranyl caproate: Effect of reaction parameters

Pseudomonas sp. lipase PS was immobilized by adsorption and tested for its ability to catalyze the synthesis of citronellyl butyrate and geranyl caproate by transesterification in n-hexane. The reaction parameters investigated were: enzyme load, effect of substrate concentration, added water, temperature, time course, organic solvent, pH memory, and enzyme reuse. Yields as high as 96 and 99% were obtained for citronellyl butyrate and geranyl caproate, respectively, with 300 units (approx. 15% w/w of reactants) of lipase PS. Increasing amounts of terpene alcohol inhibited lipase activity, while excess acyl donor (triacylglycerol) concentration enhanced ester production. Optimal yields were obtained at temperatures from 30–50°C after 24-h incubation time. Yields of 90 and 99% were obtained for citronellyl and geranyl esters, respectively, with 2% added water. Solvents with log P values ≥ 2.5 showed the highest conversion yields. pH 7 and 6–8 seemed to be ideal for citronellyl butyrate and geraniol caproate, respectively. The lipase remained active after reusing 12 times.     

Use of thermostable Fusarium heterosporum lipase for production of structured lipid containing oleic and palmitic acids in organic solvent-free system

A newly developed 1,3-positionally specific thermostable lipase from Fusarium heterosporum (named R275A lipase) was immobilized on Dowex WBA for the production of structured lipid by acidolysis of tripalmitin (PPP) with oleic acid (OA). The immobilized catalyst was fully activated by pretreatment at 50°C in a PPP/OA mixture containing 2% water. The pretreatment caused concomitant hydrolysis, but the hydrolysis was repressed using a substrate without water in the subsequent reactions. The optimal reaction conditions were determined as follows: A mixture of PPP/OA (1∶2, w/w) and 8% immobilized lipase catalyst was incubated at 50°C for 24 h with shaking at 130 oscillations/min. The acidolysis reached 50% under these conditions, and the contents of triolein, 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl-glycerol, 1(3),2-dioleoyl-3(1)-palmitoyl-glycerol, 1(3),2-palmitoyl-3(1)-oleoyl-glycerol, 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol, and PPP in the reaction mixture were 8, 36, 4, 28, 1, and 6 mol%, respectively. The stabilities of immobilized R275A lipase catalyst and two immobilized catalysts containing Rhizopus delemar or Rhizomucor miehei lipases were compared under the conditions mentioned above, with the catalysts being transferred to fresh substrate every 24 h. The half-life of the R275A lipase catalyst was 370 d, which was significantly longer than those of Rhizopus and Rhizomucor lipase catalysts.