Fatty Acid Specificity of Candida cylindracea Lipase

Candida cylindracea lipase (SIGMA) was tested against triglycerides (TG) and wax esters (WE) of marine origin as substrates. Under the same conditions, wax esters were hydrolysed at a lower rate than the triglycerides. The C₁₄ to C₁₈ saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were preferentially hydrolysed whereas the longer chain monoenes (20:1 and 22:1) and particularly the polyunsaturated fatty acids (18:4,20:5 and 22:6) were resistant to the hydrolysis in triglycerides as well as in wax esters. No specificity was demonstrated for the fatty alcohols in the wax esters.