Characteristics of Lipase Catalysis During Ester Synthesis in Reversed Micellar Systems

The ability of lipase from Candida cylindracea to catalyze ester synthesis from a long chain fatty acid (palmitic acid) and alcohols of varying chain length, is examined. The enzyme is located in the minimal-water environment of reversed micelles. Lipase activity is a strong function of the mode of encapsulation. Direct solid lipase addition to reversed micelles leads to encapsulation in an inactive state unless the enzyme is contacted with the acyl substrate. The alcohol inhibits activity, with low molecular weight alcohols tending to denature the enzyme. Implications to reversed micelle based biocatalyst preparation are briefly discussed.