Geotrichum candidum 4013: Extracellular lipase versus cell-bound lipase from the single strain

Two types of lipases (extracellular and cell-bound) were produced by Geotrichum candidum 4013 in liquid medium and were used as biocatalysts in blackcurrant oil hydrolysis. Reaction products were analysed for the degree of conversion from which enzyme activity was evaluated, and the composition of free fatty acids was compared to the composition of oil substrate. The enzyme activity was measured also before and after the reaction in SC-CO₂. The fatty acid composition of the acids liberated from oil by hydrolysis suggests a specificity of the cell-bound and extracellular enzymes from Geotrichum candidum 4013. The extracellular lipase displays low selectivity to the polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the cell-bound lipase possesses selectivity to the saturated fatty acids. Enantioselectivity of the tested processes achieved with both induced enzymes was high (from 43 to 242). The activity of all enzymes has markedly increased after their exposure to SC-CO₂. The treatment of enzymes by SC-CO₂ could be easy-to-use approaches to improve the efficiency of enzymatic reactions.     

Selective lipid hydrolysis byGeotrichum candidum NRRL Y-553 lipase

Summary A crude preparation of lipases from the fungusGeotrichum candidum NRRL Y-553, which shows specificity toward cis-9 unsaturated fatty acids, was used to hydrolyze natural fats and oils, with the goal of producing industrially useful fatty acid and/or mono- and diacylglycerols products. Tallow and soy oil were hydrolyzed, producing free fatty acids high in oleic or cis-9 unsaturates, respectively. Hydrolysis of rapesced oil produced acylglycerols enriched in erucic acid.     

Enrichment of very-long-chain mono-unsaturated fatty acids by lipase-catalysed hydrolysis and transesterification

Partial hydrolysis of triacylglycerols of high-erucic-acid seed oils from white mustard (Sinapis alba), oriental mustard (Brassica juncea) and honesty (Lunaria annua), catalysed by lipases from Candida cylindracea and Geotrichum candidum, leads to enrichment of erucic acid and other very-long-chain mono-unsaturated fatty acids (VLCMFA) in the acylglycerols (mono-, di- and triacylglycerol) while the C₁₈ fatty acids (oleic, linoleic and linolenic) are enriched in the fatty acid fraction. Partial hydrolysis of the high-erucic-acid triacylglycerols, catalysed by lipases from porcine pancreas, Chromobacterium viscosum, Rhizopus arrhizus and Rhizomucor miehei yields fatty acids with substantially higher levels of VLCMFA, as compared to the starting material, while the C₁₈ fatty acids are enriched in the acylglycerol fraction. Lipases from Penicillium sp. and Candida antarctica are ineffective for the fractionation of either group of fatty acids. Transesterification of the high-erucic-acid triacylglycerols with ethyl, propyl or butyl acetate or with n-butanol, catalysed by the lipase from R. miehei, leads to enrichment of VLCMFA in the alkyl (ethyl, propyl or butyl) esters, whereas the C₁₈ fatty acids are enriched in the acetylacylglycerols and acylglycerols.     

Evaluation of strains of Geotrichum candidum for lipase production and fatty acid specificity

Summary Three strains of Geotrichum candidum (ATCC 34614, NRRL Y-552 and NRRL Y-553) were examined for lipase production and activity. Variables including medium, pH, temperature, agitation rate and incubation time were examined to define the optimal culture conditions. Growth on oil in complex medium at 30°C, 300 rpm, and pH 7 produced maximal lipase activity. Fatty acid specificity of these strains and of two crude G. candidum enzyme preparations (lipase 26557 RP, Rhône Poulenc and lipase GC-4, Amano) was measured using equimolar mixtures of methyl or butyl esters of palmitic and oleic acids. The lipase from NRRL Y-553 and lipase 26557 RP displayed preferential specificity for hydrolyzing oleic acid esters, while the lipases from ATCC 34614, NRRL Y-552 and lipase GC-4 failed to discriminate between plamitic and oleic acids.     

Modification of the fatty-acid composition in lipids of the oleaginous yeast Apiotrichum curvatum by intraspecific spheroplast fusion

Summary Modification of the fatty-acid composition in lipids of the oleaginous yeast Apiotrichum curvatum has been achieved by means of spheroplast fusion between a methionine auxotrophic mutant and an unsaturated fatty acid mutant. Fusion products were a result of nuclear hybridization as determined by flow-cytometric DNA-content analyses. A broad range of fatty acid composition was observed in lipids of different hybrids. In general the level of saturated fatty acids in lipids of hybrid strains is higher than in wild-type A. curvatum and in some hybrids even approaches cocoa butter. Intraspecific spheroplast fusion seems a promising approach for the production of cocoa butter equivalents.     

Lipase-mediated esterification of racemic alcohols: A comparison of 2-substituted cyclohexanols and cyclopentanols

Summary Esterification of five- and six-membered-ring-containing alcohols catalysed by three different lipases (those from porcine pancreas, Candida cylindracea and Geotrichum candidum) was studied. Some conversions gave high stereochemical purity, but all gave low yields.     

Lipase-Catalyzed Reactions for Modification of fats and other Lipids

Applications of lipase-catalyzed reactions, such as hydrolysis of fats for the production of fatty acids and esterification or interesterification of fats and other lipids for the preparation of diverse products in food and non-food industries, are reviewed. At present, the application of lipases in biotechnological processes seems to be economically feasible and appropriate mainly for the preparation of specific products of high commercial value, which cannot be prepared conveniently by chemical synthesis. For example, polyunsaturated fatty acids that can be used in dietetic products are prepared under mild conditions by hydrolysis of marine oils and certain plant oils with non-specific triacylglycerol lipases. Very long chain monounsaturated fatty acids (gadoleic, erucic and nervonic) that are of value in oleochemical industry can be prepared by partial hydrolysis of cruciferous oils with sn-1,3-specific lipases. Lipase-catalyzed esterification yields a variety of products, such as monoacylglycerols that are used as emulsifiers, and wax esters resembling jojoba oil which is used in cosmetics industry. Interesterification of fats with sn-1,3-specinc lipases affords specialty products, such as cocoa butter substitutes which are used in confectionary products and medium chain triacylglycerols that can be used in dietetic products. Phospholipase-catalyzed exchange of acyl moieties or bases of glycerophos-pholipids yields several products of biomedical interest.     

Characterization of Geotrichum candidum lipase III with some preference for the inside ester bond of triglyceride

A new form of Geotrichum candidum lipase with a unique positional specificity was found to exist in the culture broth as a minor component together with the well-documented major form. Unlike the major form, which cleaves both the inside and outside ester bonds of triglyceride indiscriminately, the newly isolated form showed some preference for the inside (2-position) ester bond. The new enzyme was also characterized by its own fatty acid specificity, i.e., an outstandingly high activity towards triolein and methyl oleate among the simple triglycerides and fatty acid methyl esters tested. Moreover, the enzyme possesed a specific activity three times as high as the major form. Notable difference in circular dichroism spectra were observed between the two forms, indicating distinct conformational differences. Edman degradation revealed that the N-terminal sequence of the new form differed from that of the major form, thus demonstrating the existence of a novel lipase gene on the chromosome. Correspondence to: A. Sugihara     

Isolation and characterization of fatty acid auxotrophs from the oleaginous yeast Apiotrichum curvatum

Summary In order to improve the economic value of lipids produced by the oleaginous yeast strain Apiotrichum curvatum ATCC 20509, a search was made for mutants defective in the conversion of stearic acid to oleic acid. Mutants could be selected as unsaturated fatty acid auxotrophs, since unsaturated fatty acids are essential componenets in membrane lipids. After treatment of A. curvatum wild-type with N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, 58 fatty-acid-requiring mutants were isolated. On the basis of (1) the growth response to saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and (2) the fatty acid composition of lipids produced by these mutants, it was concluded that only 18 of them were real unsaturated fatty acid (Ufa) mutants, while the other 40 were designated as fatty acid synthetase (Fas) mutants. It is further shown that Ufa mutants of A. curvatum are able to produce high amounts of lipids consisting of more than 90% triacylglycerols with a percentage of saturated fatty acids resembling that of cocoa butter, when grown in the presence of relatively small amounts of oleic acid in the growth medium. This may offer an economically favourable alternative in comparison with other methods that have been developed for the production of cocoa butter equivalents by microorganisms.Offprint requests to: H. Smit     

Lipid production of revertants of Ufa mutants from the oleaginous yeast Apiotrichum curvatum

Summary From six unsaturated fatty acid auxotrophs (Ufa mutants) of the oleaginous yeast Apiotrichum curvatum blocked in the conversion of stearic to oleic acid, were isolated revertants able to grow in the absence of unsaturated fatty acids, in a search for strains that can produce cocoa butter equivalents. A broad range in the percentage of saturated fatty acids (%SFA) was observed in the lipids of individual revertants (varying from 27%–86% SFA), compared with the wild-type (44% SFA). Further analysis of fatty acid composition indicated that: (i) not all six Ufa mutants had the same genetic background and (ii) one specific Ufa mutation could be reverted in more than one way. Revertants that produced lipids with a %SFA>56%, were examined further. These strains were cultivated for 50 generations and half of them produced lipids with high %SFA after that time and were defined as stable. The viability of revertant strains with extremely high %SFA (>80%) may be explained by our finding that polar lipids, which are part of yeast membranes, contained much more polyunsaturated fatty acids and a significantly lower %SFA than neutral (storage) lipids. One revertant (R25.75) was selected that was able to produce lipids in whey permeate at a rate comparable with wild-type A. curvatum and with a fatty acid composition and congelation curve comparable with cocoa butter. Offprint requests to: A. Ykema     

Sensitivity of microbial lipases to acetaldehyde formed by acyl-transfer reactions from vinyl esters

Summary The sensitivity of twenty six microbial lipases towards acetaldehyde (an unavoidable by-product in lipase-catalysed acyl transfer reactions with vinyl esters) was investigated. The sensitivity of an individual enzyme strongly depends on its properties such as microbial source, molecular weight and relative lysine content. Whereas the majority of enzymes (from Pseudomonas, Rhizopus, Chromobacterium, Mucor and Candida antarctica sp.) proved to be remarkably stable, lipases from Candida rugosa and Geotrichum candidum lost most of their activity when exposed to acetaldehyde.     

Substrate specificity,regioselectivity and hydrolytic activity of lipases activated from Geotrichum sp.

Substrate specificity (typoselectivity), regioselectivity and hydrolytic activity of induced lipases from three strains (4012, 4013, 4166) of Geotrichum candidum and that of Geotrichum ludwigii (48) were investigated. The lipases were induced in two types of culture media, of which the medium containing peptone as nitrogen source was proved to give better results. Olive oil was employed as inductor for the lipase activity. Activated lipases represented mostly extracelullar lipases, which penetrated through cellular membrane into medium. The activity of cell-bound lipase was also determined. Most of lipases belong to the group of specific lipases able to hydrolyse ester bonds in the positions sn-1 and sn-3 ester of triacylglycerols (1,3-selective lipases) and display specificity to saturated fatty acids. All activated lipases from Geotrichum sp., extracellular and cell-bound, were used as biocatalyst in the blackcurrant oil hydrolysis.     

A novel Geotrichum candidum lipase with some preference for the 2-position on a triglyceride molecule

Summary A new component of Geotrichum candidum lipase with a unique positional specificity was isolated from culture broth together with a known major component. The purification included DEAE-Sephadex A-50 ion exchange chromatography. Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, and Butyl Toyopearl 650S hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The newly isolated component, though only a minor one, cleaved the 2-positioned ester bond nearly twice as fast as the 1(3)-positioned ester bond of a triglyceride molecule. In contrast, the major component hydrolysed all the ester bonds indiscriminately, which is consistent with the widely accepted positional specificity of the lipase from G. candidum. Offprint requests to: A. Sugihara     

The effect of tweens on the lipolytic activity ofGeotrichum candidum

Geotrichum candidum produces an extracellular lipase in different media provided that the pH does not decrease too much during growth. The enzyme has a particular substrate specificity; only esters of unsaturated fatty acids which are insoluble in water, are hydrolysed. Although the lipase fails to hydrolyse tweens, the latter stimulate its production but at the same time tweens and other surface-active compounds inhibit the lipolytic action of the enzyme.     

Isolation and Partial Characterization of Antifungal Metabolites Produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis> sp. IBA 33

Antifungal proteins produced by Bacillus sp. IBA 33 were purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography. The two purified proteins inhibited the growth of Geotrichum candidum, the sour rot disease agent in lemon. The proteins were stable at 20 (3 months), 40, 60 and 100°C (30 min) and remained active after sterilization at 121°C for 15 min. Their hydrophobic nature was proved and when were developed with ninhydrin they did not show any free amino groups. The infrared spectrum showed vibrational modes corresponding to peptide, ester or ketone links and saturated CH links corresponding to long chain fatty acids. UV scan spectroscopy showed tyrosine and or tryptophan amino acids in their composition. The remarkable thermo-resistance of proteins may be a good feature to be used in the development of a new biocontrol method of Geotrichum candidum.     

Utility of ionic liquid for Geotrichum candidum-catalyzed synthesis of optically active alcohols

Ionic liquids have recognized as a solvent for Geotrichum candidum-catalyzed optical resolution and/or deracemization of racemic secondary alcohols, giving optically active alcohols. The immobilized Geotrichum candidum proceeded the enantioselective oxidation of alcohols, producing chiral alcohols in an ionic liquid. Further, deracemization of racemic alcohols was proceeded to give the corresponding chiral alcohols in high yield with excellent stereoselectivity by the Geotrichum candidum–NaBH₄ system in the mixture of MES buffer solution and ionic liquid.     

Interesterification of phosphatidylcholine with lipases in organic media

Summary Lipases were investigated with respect to their ability to catalyse the incorporation of fatty acids into phosphatidylcholine (PC) by interesterification reactions. The enzymes were dried onto solid support materials and the conversions were carried out in water-saturated toluene. Three lipases (two fungal and one plant enzyme) had the desired activity; immobilized lipase from Mucor miehei (Lipozyme) was the most active enzyme. The Lipozyme-catalysed interesterification was selective for the sn-1 position of PC and during 48 h of reaction around 50% of the fatty acids in this position were replaced with heptadecanoic acid, a fatty acid which was practically absent in the original phospholipid. Due to adsorption on the support material and the competing hydrolysis reaction the total amount of PC in the reaction solution decreased to about 40% of the original amount. Higher interesterification rates were obtained with free fatty acids as acyl donors than with fatty acid esters. Offprint requests to: I. Svensson     

Selective Enrichment of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Oils by Phospholipase A1

Omega fatty acids are recognized as key nutrients for healthier ageing. Lipases are used to release ω-3 fatty acids from oils for preparing enriched ω-3 fatty acid supplements. However, use of lipases in enrichment of ω-3 fatty acids is limited due to their insufficient specificity for ω-3 fatty acids. In this study use of phospholipase A1 (PLA1), which possesses both sn-1 specific activity on phospholipids and lipase activity, was explored for hydrolysis of ω-3 fatty acids from anchovy oil. Substrate specificity of PLA1 from Thermomyces lenuginosus was initially tested with synthetic p-nitrophenyl esters along with a lipase from Bacillus subtilis (BSL), as a lipase control. Gas chromatographic characterization of the hydrolysate obtained upon treatment of anchovy oil with these enzymes indicated a selective retention of ω-3 fatty acids in the triglyceride fraction by PLA1 and not by BSL. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy based position analysis of fatty acids in enzyme treated and untreated samples indicated that PLA1 preferably retained ω-3 fatty acids in oil, while saturated fatty acids were hydrolysed irrespective of their position. Hydrolysis of structured triglyceride,1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol, suggested that both the enzymes hydrolyse the fatty acids at both the positions. The observed discrimination against ω-3 fatty acids by PLA1 appears to be due to its fatty acid selectivity rather than positional specificity. These studies suggest that PLA1 could be used as a potential enzyme for selective concentrationof ω-3 fatty acids.     

Synthesis of various kinds of esters by four microbial lipases

Ester synthesis by microbial lipases, using homogeneous enzyme preparations, were investigated. The amount of synthesized ester was estimated by alkalimetry, and products were identified by thin-layer chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. Lipases from Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus delemar, Geotrichum candidum and Penicillium cyclopium synthesized esters from oleic acid and various primary alcohols. Only Geotrichum candidum lipase synthesized esters of secondary alcohols. Esters of tertiary alcohols, phenols or sugar alcohols were not synthesized by any lipase. Rather high concentrations of alcohol were required to synthesize the esters of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or trimethylene glycol. Lipases from Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus delemar synthesized oleyl esters of various fatty acids and some dibasic acids. In contrast, lipases from Geotrichum candidum and Penicillium cyclopium synthesized oleyl esters only from medium or long chain fatty acids.     

Fatty acid preference of mycelium-bound lipase from a locally isolated strain of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Geotrichum candidum</Emphasis>

Mycelium-bound lipase (MBL) was prepared using a strain of Geotrichum candidum isolated from local soil. At the time of maximum lipase activity (54 h), the mycelia to which the lipase was bound were harvested by filtration and centrifugation. Dry MBL was prepared by lyophilizing the mycelia obtained. The yield of MBL was 3.66 g/l with a protein content of 44.11 mg/g. The lipase activity and specific lipase activity were 22.59 and 510 U/g protein, respectively. The moisture content of the MBL was 3.85%. The activity of free (extracellular) lipase in the culture supernatant (after removal of mycelia) was less than 0.2 U/ml. The MBL showed selectivity for oleic acid over palmitic acid during hydrolysis of palm olein, indicating that the lipase from G. candidum displayed high substrate selectivity for unsaturated fatty acid containing a cis-9 double bond, even in crude form. This unique specificity of MBL could be a direct, simple and inexpensive way in the fats and oil industry for the selective hydrolysis or transesterification of cis-9 fatty acid residues in natural triacylglycerols.