Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis of Fatty Acid Esters Useful in the Food Industry

Enzyme reactions are very attractive in food technology because they can be carried out under mild conditions and without toxic solvents and other catalysts. Lipases can esterify various alcohols with fatty acids. There are opportunities to synthesize useful compounds with special functions as food materials by using the catalytic function of lipase. Reverse micellar systems are discussed as reaction systems for lipases in organic solvents, especially in triacylglycerol synthesis using phosphatidylcholine as the surfactant. Syntheses of some amphiphilic substances including O-acyl-L-homoserine are also discussed.