Diacylglycerol lipase and kinase activities in rabbit aorta and coronary microvessels

Diacylglycerol lipase and kinase activities were measured in particulate and soluble fractions from rabbit aorta (intima-media) and coronary microvessels. With rabbit aorta, the hydrolysis at the sn-1 position of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol had a pH optimum of 5-6 and was greater than hydrolysis at the sn-2 position (pH optimum of 6.5). Only the 2-monoacylglycerol accumulated during incubations at pH 5 and 6.5. These results are consistent with an ordered two-step reaction sequence where the fatty acid at the sn-1 position is released first, followed by the hydrolysis of the fatty acid from the 2-monoacylglycerol by a monoacylglycerol lipase with a neutral pH optimum. Lipase activity (sn-2 hydrolysis) at pH 6.5 was greater than kinase activity at all substrate concentrations. The presence of arachidonate at the sn-2 position of the diacylglycerol increased kinase activity but had little effect on lipase activity. Kinase activity was mainly particulate, whereas 50-60% of diacylglycerol lipase and 50% of monoacylglycerol lipase activity were soluble. Diacylglycerol lipase and kinase were also present in coronary microvessel preparations. Diacylglycerol lipase (sn-2 hydrolysis) activity in coronary microvessels was not enhanced by preincubation of the enzyme preparation with cAMP-dependent protein kinase.     

The activity and properties of an acidic triacylglycerol lipase from adult and fetal rat lung

Triacylglycerol lipase with maximal activity at pH 5 was present in adult and fetal lung. The activity was inhibited by serum concentrations used to measure lipoprotein lipase and by 0.5 M NaCl. The activity in homogenates from fetal lung was about 40% of the activity in adult lung homogenates. The activity increased to 80% of the adult levels during the first 24–48 h following birth. Acidic triacylglycerol lipase was present in all subcellular fractions from adult lung. However, the major amount of activity appeared to be associated with lysosomes. Fetal lung contained significantly more activity in the cytosolic fraction compared to the adult. The reaction produced free fatty acids (65%), 1,2(2,3)-diacylglycerol (22%) and 2-monoacylglycerol (12%). Minimal amounts of 1,3-diacylglycerol and 1(3)-monoacylglycerol were formed. Diacylglycerol lipase and monoacylglycerol hydrolase activities at pH 5 were independently determined and both were higher than the triacylglycerol lipase activity. The subcellular distribution of diacylglycerol lipase and monoacylglycerol hydrolase differed from that of triacylglycerol lipase. Overall, the results indicated that the lung has considerable intracellular lipase activity and therefore could readily hydrolyze intracellular triacylglycerol to free fatty acids. The reaction also produced significant amounts of 1,2-diacylglycerol which suggests that triacylglycerol could be a direct source of diacylglycerol for phospholipid synthesis.     

Arachidonic acid release from diacylglycerol in human neutrophils. Translocation of diacylglycerol-deacylating enzyme activities from an intracellular pool to plasma membrane upon cell activation

We have studied the capacity of human neutrophils to release arachidonic acid from diacylglycerol, employing 1-stearoyl-2-[1-14C]arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol and 1-[1-14C]stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol as exogenous substrates. We have found that arachidonic acid is removed from diacylglycerol by the sequential action of two enzymes. First, the sn-1 position is split by 1-diacylglycerol lipase activity, and then, arachidonic acid is released from the resulting 2-monoacylglycerol by a 2-monoacylglycerol lipase. The specific activity of the 2-monoacylglycerol lipase, using 2-[1-14C]arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol as exogenous substrate, was at least 9-fold higher than that of 1-diacylglycerol lipase, indicating that the action of the 1-diacylglycerol lipase is the rate-limiting step in arachidonic acid release from diacylglycerol. Postnuclear supernatants from A23187-treated cells showed a 2.5-fold increase in both lipase activities. The arachidonic acid-releasing diacylglycerol lipase system showed an optimum pH of 4.5 and was not inhibited by EGTA or stimulated by Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, or Co2+. However, arachidonic acid release was inhibited by Hg2+, suggesting the involvement of sulfhydryl groups in catalytic activity. The subcellular distribution of both 1-diacylglycerol lipase and 2-monoacylglycerol lipase activities was examined in resting and A23187-treated human neutrophils by fractionation of postnuclear supernatants on continuous sucrose gradients. Both lipases were localized mainly in the membrane of gelatinase-containing granules, which were resolved from cytosol, plasma membrane, phosphasomes, and specific and azurophilic granules. When neutrophils were stimulated by the calcium ionophore A23187, a drastic shift of the 1-diacylglycerol lipase and 2-monoacylglycerol lipase toward the plasma membrane was detected. This shift was due to fusion of gelatinase-containing granules with the plasma membrane upon neutrophil stimulation. As a result of the membrane fusion process, the capacity to release arachidonic acid from diacylglycerol was increased. This translocation from the membrane of gelatinase-containing granules to the plasma membrane may play an important role in regulating the diacylglycerol level in stimulated human neutrophils.     

Pattern of response to feeding and fasting of heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase in rat cardiomyocytes

The regulatory events whereby the amount of secreted heart lipoprotein lipase decreases post-prandially and increases during fasting are unclear. We examined whether the nutritional state influenced the lipolytic activities that hydrolyze tri-, di-, and monoacylglycerol as membrane-associated enzyme in rat cardiomyocytes. Properties of triacylglycerol lipase are typical of lipoprotein lipase whereas diacylglycerol and monoacylglycerol lipase activities hydrolyze the products of lipoprotein lipase action. We observed that: (1) membrane-bound activity levels assayed at the cell boundary were high for MAGL and much lower for TAGL and DAGL, regardless of whether cells originated from fasted or fed rats; (2) the stimulatory effects of serum were likewise similar in the fasted and the fed states; (3) isolated cardiomyocytes exhibited no constitutive secretion of active enzyme; and (4) factors determining the variations in amounts of heparin-releasable enzyme in response to nutritional changes appeared to be related to the pre-existing high (in the fasted state) or low (in the fed state) intracellular content in enzymatic activities, supporting the proposal that the secretion of active lipoprotein lipase involves disruption of intracellular vesicles and exocytosis of the enzyme, without its accumulation in the plasma membrane. On a functional basis, the results emphasize the heterogenous nature of the LPL enzymatic complex.     

Subcellular fractionation, partial purification and characterization of neutral triacylglycerol lipase from pig liver.

The subcellular distributions of acidic (pH 4.5) and neutral (pH 7.5) longchain triacylglycerol lipases (glycerol ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) of pig liver have been determined. The distribution of the acidic lipase closely paralleled that of the lysosomal marker enzyme, cathepsin D. Approx. 60% of the neutral lipolytic activity resided in the soluble fraction;the distribution of this activity failed to parallel that of marker enzymes for mitochondria, lysosomes, microsomes, or plasma membranes. A method has been developed for purification of the neutral lipase from the soluble fraction by ultracentrifugation. An approximate 90-fold purification was achieved, with recovery of 16% of the initial activity. The partially purified neutral lipase exhibited a pH optimum between 7.25 and 7.5. It required 30 mM emulsified triolein for optimal activity and ceased to liberate fatty acids after 30 min of incubation. The enzymatic activity was destroyed by heating at 60 degrees C. Neutral lipase was inhibited by sodium deoxycholate, Triton X-100 and iodoacetamide. The activity was not inhibited by sodium taurocholate, EDTA, heparin and diethyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate. Neutral lipase failed to exhibit activity in assay systems specific for lipoprotein lipase, monoolein hydrolase, tributyrinase, and methyl butyrate esterase and showed little or no capacity to hydrolyze chyle chylomicrons or plasma very low density lipoproteins. It is suggested that the function of neutral lipase may be to supply the liver with fatty acids liberated from endogenously synthesized or stored triacylglycerols.     

Diacylglycerol lipase and kinase activities in rat brain microvessels

Diacylglycerols can accumulate transiently in intact cells as a consequence of the degradation of phosphatidylinositol by phospholipase C, but little information is available concerning their metabolic fate in the vascular endothelium. Diacylglycerol lipase and kinase activities were measured in rat brain microvessel preparations. Lipase activity, measured by the release of free fatty acids, was much greater at pH 4.5 than at pH 7. The acid lipase was predominantly particulate and likely originated in lysosomes, whereas the neutral lipase was mainly soluble. The fatty acid at the sn-1 position of the diacylglycerol substrate was hydrolyzed faster than that at the sn-2 position at both pH 4.5 and 7. The 2-monoacylglycerol accumulated at pH 4.5 but not at 7 due to the presence of a monoacylglycerol lipase activity with a neutral pH optimum. The formation of phosphatidic acid (kinase activity) was also measured in microvessels. When lipase and kinase activities were measured simultaneously, the formation of phosphatidic acid from a 1-palmitoyl-2-[1-14C]oleoyl-sn-glycerol substrate was 4-fold greater than the release of fatty acid (oleate) from the sn-2 position. Introduction of arachidonic acid to the sn-2 position of the diacylglycerol substrate increased kinase activity but reduced lipase activity. The release of fatty acids from the sn-2 position of phosphatidic acid could not be detected.     

Differential characteristics of purified hepatic triglyceride lipase and lipoprotein lipase from human postheparin plasma.

Evidence is presented that hepatic triglyceride lipase (H-TGL) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL), purified from human postheparin plasma, can each hydrolyze both glyceryl trioleate and palmitoyl-CoA. The average ratio of glyceryl trioleate/palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase activities, obtained with enzyme preparations from 15 human postheparin plasma samples was 1.30 (1.18-1.52) for H-TGL and 8.75 (7.45-10.25) for LPL. Albumin was identified as the serum cofactor required for the hydrolysis of palmitoyl-CoA by H-TGL. It protected this enzyme from inactivation by this substrate. In contrast, palmitoyl-CoA activated and protected LPL from denaturation by dilution and incubation at 25 degrees C. The effects of other detergents were investigated on glyceryl trioleate hydrolase activities of both enzymes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.4 mM) and Trisoleate (0.4 mM), which also effectively activated and protected LPL against inactivation, had only moderate protective effect on H-TGL. Sodium dodecyl sulfate at a higher concentration (1 mM) produced little or no inhibition of LPL, while completely inactivating H-TGL. Conversely, sodium taurodeoxycholate (0.4 mM) protected and activated H-TGL, but had only moderate protective effect on LPL. Triton X-100 (0.1-0.8 mM) and egg lysolecithin (0.05-2 mM) also protected H-TGL, but not LPL. The very dissimilar effects of detergents on preparations on H-TGL and LPL may form the basis for the direct assay of each enzyme in the presence of the other.     

Biochemical and molecular characterization of Staphylococcus simulans lipase.

Staphylococcus simulans strain secretes a non-induced lipase in the culture medium. Staphylococcus simulans lipase (SSL), purified to homogeneity, is a tetrameric protein (160 kDa) corresponding to the association of four lipase molecules. The 30 N-terminal amino acid residues were sequenced. This sequence is identical to the one of Staphylococcus aureus PS54 lipase (SAL PS54) and exhibits a high degree of homology with Staphylococcus aureus NCTC8530 lipase (SAL NCTC8530), Staphylococcus hyicus lipase (SHL) and Staphylococcus epidermis RP62A lipase (SEL RP62A) sequences. But the cloning and sequencing of the part of the gene encoding the mature lipase show some differences from SAL PS54 sequence, which suggest that it is a new sequence. The lipase activity was maximal at pH 8.5 and 37 degrees C. SSL is able to hydrolyze triacylglycerols without chain length specificity. A specific activity of about 1000 U/mg was measured on tributyrin or triolein as substrate at 37 degrees C and at pH 8.5 in the presence of 3 mM CaCl(2). In contrast to other staphylococcal lipases previously characterized, Ca(2+) is not required to express the activity of SSL. SSL was found to be stable between pH 4 and pH 9. The enzyme is inactivated after a few minutes when incubated at 60 degrees C. Using tripropionin as substrate, SSL does not present the interfacial activation phenomenon. In contrast to many lipases, SSL is able to hydrolyze its substrate in the presence of bile salts or amphiphilic proteins.     

Phospholipase C and diacylglycerol lipase activities associated with plasma membranes of chromaffin cells isolated from bovine adrenal medulla

The plasma membranes of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells were isolated and the activities of enzymes involved in arachidonic acid liberation were investigated. Only a minute activity of phospholipase A2 (phosphatide 2-acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.4) could be detected using externally added phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) as substrate. When membranes were treated with exogenous phospholipase C (orthophosphoric acid diester phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.1) there was a liberation of free fatty acids from the sn-2 position of PC. The enzyme responsible for this effect could be demonstrated to be a diacylglycerol lipase (glycerol ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) localized in the plasma membrane. Using phosphatidylinositol (PI) as a substrate, it was found that an endogenous phospholipase C exists which co-purifies with the membrane preparation. The produced diacylglycerol is subsequently hydrolyzed by diacylglycerol lipase liberating arachidonic acid. The two enzymes, phospholipase C and diacylglycerol lipase were characterized. Phospholipase C was found to be calcium dependent and PI specific, showing an activity of 60 pmol/micrograms protein per h (1.2 mM Ca2+), whereas the diacylglycerol lipase was calcium independent hydrolyzing diacylglycerol at a rate of 7.2 pmol/micrograms protein per h. The lipase but not the phospholipase C was inhibited 50% by 1.7 mM para-bromophenacylbromide.     

Ca2+-activated ATPase of rat liver plasma membrane.

Rat liver plasma membranes hydrolyze ATP in the presence of Ca2+. The rate of hydrolysis is different when Mg2+ions are present in the incubation system. Several parameters differentiate Ca2+-ATPase from Mg2+-ATPase: a) the Km of ATP hydrolysis for Ca2+ (2.25 x 10(-4) M) is lower than for Mg2+ (2.14 x 10(-3) M); b) the shape of the activation curve is hyperbolic in the presence of Ca2+ and sigmoid in the presence of Mg2+; c) Mg2+-ATPase shows two different values of activation energy while Ca2+-ATPase presents only a single value; d) Ca2+-ATPase is inhibited, while Mg2+-ATPase is unaffected by cyclic AMP. Ca2+-ATPase is localized on the plasma membrane and is not inhibited by cysteine. It does not hydrolyze substrates different from nucleotides triphosphate, such as glucose-1-phosphate or alpha-glycero-phosphate. The enzyme is probably related to a mechanism of calcium transport.     

Presence of adenylate cyclase activity in Golgi and other fractions from rat liver. I. Biochemical determination

The distribution of adenylate cyclase (AC) in Golgi and other cell fractions from rat liver was studied using the Golgi isolation procedure of Ehrenreich et al. In liver homogenate the AC activity was found to decay with time, but addition of 1 mM EGTA reduced the rate of enzyme loss. The incorporation of 1 mM EGTA into the sucrose medium used in the initial two centrifugal steps of the Golgi isolation method stabilized the enzyme activity throughout the entire procedure and resulted in good enzyme recovery. In such preparations, AC activity was demonstrated to be associated not only with plasma membranes but also with Golgi membranes and smooth microsomal membranes as well. Furthermore, under the conditions used, enzyme activity was also associated with the 105,000 g x 90 min supernatant fraction. The specific activity of the liver homogenate was found to be 2.9 pmol-mg protein-1-min-1, the nonsedimentabel and microsomal activity was of the same order of magnitude, but the Golgi and plasma membrane activities were much higher. The specific activity of plasma membrane AC was 29 pmol-mg proten-1-min-1. The Golgi activity varied in the three fractions, with the highest activity (14 pmol) in GF1 lowest activity (1.8) in GF2, and intermediate activity (5.5) in GF3, when the Golgi activity was corrected for the presence of content protein, the activity in GF1 became much higher (9 x) than that of the plasma membrane while the activities in GF2 and GF3 were comparable to that of plasma membrane. In all locations studied, the AC was sensitive to NaF stimulation, especially the enzyme associated with Golgi membranes. The activities in plasma and microsomal membranes were stimulated by glucagon, whereas the Golgi and nonsedimentable AC were not.     

Synthesis of sn-1,2-diacylglycerols by monoacylglycerol acyltransferase from Manduca sexta fat body

The pathway for the synthesis of sn-1,2-diacylglycerol stimulated by the action of adipokinetic hormone (AKH) in the insect fat body is unknown. Previous results from this laboratory suggested that the hydrolysis of stored triacylglycerol to sn-2-monoacylglycerol followed by the stereospecific acylation of sn-2-monoacylglycerol catalyzed by a monoacylglycerol-acyltransferase (MGAT) could be the major route of AKH-stimulated sn-1,2-diacylglycerol synthesis. Thus, MGAT might represent a key enzyme of this pathway. In this study we characterized the MGAT activity from the Manduca sexta fat body. The activity, which was assayed by acylation of 2-monoolein using radioactive labeled palmitoyl-CoA, was found to be primarily a microsomal enzyme. The products of the acylation of 2-monoolein were 1,2-diacylglycerol (40–50%), 1,3-diacylglycerol (20–30%), and triacylglycerol (30–40%). The presence of triacylglycerol as a product revealed the presence of diacylglycerol-acyltransferase activity in the fat body microsomes. The pH optimum of MGAT activity was 7.0, and the dependence of the activity on the concentration of 2-monoolein showed saturation kinetics. An endogenous MGAT activity, which represented 20% of the maximal activity observed with added substrate, was detected. Optimal concentrations of palmitoyl-CoA ranged between 0.10–0.20 mM. The specific activity of MGAT, measured under optimal conditions, was about 0.6 nmol DG formed/min-mg protein. MGAT activity was greatest with 2-monoolein, and lower activity was observed when a saturated 2-monoacylglycerol was employed. The activity observed with sn-1-monoacylglycerol was lower than that observed with sn-2-monoacylglycerol. AKH did not stimulate MGAT activity, suggesting that either the enzyme is not under hormonal regulation or the monoacylglycerol pathway is not involved in the AKH-stimulated production of sn-1,2-diacylglycerol in the M. sexta fat body. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Digestion in vitro of erythritol esters by rat pancreatic juice enzymes

The mechanism of the digestion of erythritol esters was determined using rat pancreatic juice and purified pancreatic lipase (EC 3.1.1.3). Conditions of hydrolysis were used that would selectively activate or inactivate nonspecific lipase or lipase. It was shown that erythritol tetraoleate was hydrolyzed by nonspecific lipase but not by lipase. The initial digestion product was a triester, predominantly erythritol-1,2,3-trioleate. Thus, nonspecific lipase preferentially hydrolyzed the ester of a primary alcohol. In contrast to the results obtained with the tetraester, lipase could remove a fatty acid from the triester but the resulting erythritol-2,3-dioleate was not hydrolyzed by lipase. The selectivity of this hydrolysis and the inability to hydrolyze the diester are attributed to the known specificity of this enzyme to act only on esters of primary alcohols. Nonspecific lipase completely hydrolyzed erythritol tetraoleate to free erythritol in a stepwise manner. The relative rates of these reactions were tetraester --> triester --> diester --> monoester --> erythritol Because of the specificity of pancreatic lipase and the lack of specificity of nonspecific lipase it is likely that this latter enzyme is the primary agent for the hydrolysis of erythritol esters in the intact animal.     

Purification and properties of phosphatidic acid phosphatase from porcine thymus membranes.

We purified phosphatidic acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.4) 2300-fold from porcine thymus membranes. The enzyme was solubilized with beta-octyl glucoside and Triton X-100 and fractionated with ammonium sulfate. The purification was then achieved by chromatography in the presence of Triton X-100 with Sephacryl S-300, hydroxylapatite, heparin-Sepharose, and Affi-Gel Blue. The final enzyme preparation gave a single band of M(r) = 83,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing and nonreducing conditions. The native enzyme, on the other hand, was eluted at M(r) = 218,000 in gel filtration chromatography with Superose 12 in the presence of Triton X-100. The enzyme was judged to be specific to phosphatidic acid, since excess amounts of dicetylphosphate or lysophosphatidic acid did not inhibit the enzyme activity. In this respect, the enzyme was inhibited by 1,2-diacylglycerol but not by 1- or 2-monoacylglycerol and triacylglycerol. The enzyme required Triton X-100 or deoxycholate for its activity. Although the enzyme appeared to be an integral membrane protein, we could not detect its phospholipid dependencies. The activity was independent of Mg2+, and other cations were strongly inhibitory. The specific enzyme activity was 15 mumol/min/mg of protein when assayed using phosphatidic acid as Triton X-100 mixed micelles. The Km for the surface concentration of phosphatidic acid was 0.30 mol%. The enzyme was inhibited by sphingosine and chloropromazine, and less potently, by propranolol and NaF. The enzyme was insensitive to thio-reactive reagents like N-ethylmaleimide.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of rabbit pancreatic triglyceride lipase.

Pancreatic lipase (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) has been cloned from a gt11 cDNA library made from poly A+ RNA of adult rabbit pancreas. Pancreatic lipase (PL) assists the absorption of dietary triglycerides by hydrolyzing them at 1 and 3 positions to free fatty acids and 2-monoacylglycerol in the presence of bile acids and colipase in the intestinal lumen. Since rabbits are classifically used for the study of the diet induced changes in the lipid metabolism, as a prelude to studying the diet and age dependent changes in the expression of this enzyme, a full length PL cDNA clone was obtained from its pancreas. The coding region of rabbit pancreatic lipase cDNA consists of 1407 base pairs contained in an open reading frame encoding 469 amino acids including the 16 that constitute the signal peptide. Northern blot analysis revealed a band around 1.5 kb. When rabbit enzyme is compared to other species, an over all homology of 70-80% was observed at the nucleotide level. High homology in the amino acid sequence and composition is also apparent between rabbit and other species like dog (65%), pig (76%) and rat (63%). Highest homology is found to be around active-site serine. The regions of homology with other species may help to define sites of interaction of lipase with co-lipase.     

A rat liver lysosomal membrane flavin-adenine dinucleotide phosphohydrolase: purification and characterization

An enzyme hydrolyzing flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) to flavin mononucleotide and AMP was identified and purified from rat liver lysosomal (Tritosomal) membranes. The purified enzyme showed a single band on silver-stained denaturing gels with an apparent Mr 70,000. Periodate-Schiff staining after denaturing gel electrophoresis of whole membrane preparations revealed that this enzyme is one of the major glycoproteins in lysosomal membranes. FAD appeared to be the preferred substrate for the purified enzyme; equivalent concentrations of NAD or CoA were hydrolyzed at about one-half of the FAD rate. Negligible activity (less than or equal to 16%) was noted with ATP, TTP, ADP, AMP, FMN, pyrophosphate, or p-nitrophenylphosphate. The enzyme was inhibited by EDTA or dithiothreitol. It was stimulated by Zn, and was not affected by Ca or Mg ions, nor by p-chloromercuribenzoate. The pH optimum for FAD hydrolysis was 8.5-9 with an apparent Km of 0.125 mM. Antibodies prepared against the purified enzyme partially (50%) inhibited FAD phosphohydrolase activity in lysosomal membrane preparations but had no effect on the soluble lysosomal acid pyrophosphatase known to hydrolyze FAD. This enzyme could not be detected immunochemically in preparations of microsomes, Golgi, plasma membranes, mitochondrial membranes, or the soluble lysosomal fraction, suggesting that the enzyme is different from either soluble lysosomal acid pyrophosphatase or other FAD hydrolyzing activities in the liver cell.     

Hydrolysis of primary and secondary esters of glycerol by pancreatic juice

The relative rates of hydrolysis of the secondary ester in glycerol 1,3-benzylidene 2-oleate and in glycerol 1,3-dihexadecyl ether 2-oleate, and of the primary and secondary esters in triolein were determined. Both unaltered and selectively inactivated rat pancreatic juice were used as sources of enzyme. It was found that rat pancreatic juice contains an enzyme that can hydrolyze fatty acids esterified at the 2-position of a glyceride. This enzyme is not pancreatic lipase. It may be sterol ester hydrolase. Partial glycerides, as well as complete glycerides, can serve as substrates. Pancreatic lipase, if it can hydrolyze the 2-positioned fatty acids of a triglyceride, does so at a very slow rate.     

Characteristics of immobilized lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of olive oil of high concentration in reverse phase system

Candida rugosa lipase immobilized by adsorption on swollen Sephadex LH-20 could almost completely hydrolyze 60% (v/v) olive oil in isooctane. Kinetic analysis of the lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis reaction was found to be possible in this system. Amount of fatty acids produced was linearly proportional to the enzyme concentration of 720 mug/g wet gel. The specific enzyme activity was 217 units/mg protein at 60% (v/v) olive oil concentration. When the initial rate is plotted versus concentration of olive oil, this system did not follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Maximum activity was obtained at pH 7, but optimum temperature shifted towards higher one with the increase of olive oil concentration. Among the various chemical compounds tested, Hg(2+) and Fe(2+) inhibited the lipase seriously. As the concentration of olive oil increased, the rate of the hydrolysis also increased, but degree of the hydrolysis was observed to decrease. The supply of water from the inside of the gel to the surface of the gel was the main factor for the control of the rate of hydrolysis in batch hydrolysis. The immobilized lipase was used to hydrolyze olive oil two times. Achievement of chemical equilibrium took a longer time with the addition of water and the degree of hydrolysis decreased in the second consecutive trial. After the second hydrolysis trial, the gels were regenerated in a packed column first by eluting out both residual fatty acids around the gel particles and the accumulated glycerol with ethanol and then with 0.05M phosphate buffer, pH 7. The immobilized lipase on the regenerated gel showed the same hydrolysis activity as the original one.     

On the Substrate Specificity of the Lipase Produced by Candida paralipolytica

The lipase from Candida paralipolytica required activating factors for the hydrolysis of synthetic triglycerides, methyl esters of fatty acid and so on. Of the saturated monoacid triglycerides tested, tricaprylin was hydrolyzed most quickly. On the other hand, the lipase was hardly able to hydrolyze methyl butyrate, methyl caproate, monoolein, Tween 20 and Span 20.

Human blood plasma did not act as an activator, but act rather as an inhibitor of the lipase. Therefore, it seems that the lipase does not belong to the group of lipoprotein lipase.     

Acetylation of Lys-373 in porcine pancreatic lipase after reaction of the enzyme or its C-terminal fragment [corrected] with p-nitrophenyl acetate

The reactions of lipase (449 amino acid residues) and lipase fragment (336-449) with p-nitrophenyl acetate have been studied from 2 different angles. In previous papers it has been shown that lipase and lipase fragment enzymatically hydrolyze p-nitrophenyl acetate. The amino acid residue of the catalytic site that is temporarily acetylated has not yet been characterized in lipase or lipase fragment. Besides this very fast enzymatic hydrolysis, acetylation reactions may take place on nucleophilic amino acid side-chain groups. In the present report, acetylated amino acid residues whose acetyl linkages were not cleaved after pH 7.5-8.5 incubations have been investigated. Several residues were acetylated in very low proportion, whereas lysine 373 was stoichiometrically acetylated in lipase and in lipase fragment. This specific acetylation may have been favored by the presence of a hydrophobic reversible binding site for p-nitrophenyl acetate near Lys-373. This acetylation did not greatly change the specific activity of lipase towards an emulsion of tributyrylglycerol in the presence of colipase, but under certain conditions it had an effect on the enzymatic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate by the lipase fragment.