Synthesis of designer lipids using papaya (Carica papaya) latex lipase

Ethyl esters (EE) of C₂ to C₁₄ saturated acids were interesterified with tripalmitin using papaya (Carica papaya) lipase to produce structured triacylglycerols (TG) with palmitoyl moieties in the secondary (sn-2), and short-chain or medium-chain acyl moieties in the primary (sn-1,3) positions. It was found that the incorporation of the acyl moieties rose with time and chain length of the ethyl ester. Little reaction occurred with ethyl acetate. The positional analysis of the structured TG formed revealed an increase in preference of the lipase for the primary positions as compared to the secondary position with increasing chain length of the acyl donor from C₂ to C₁₄.