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.