The Effect of Reverse Action on Triglyceride Hydrolysis by Lipase

Abstract

Reesterification of the fatty acid liberated during hydrolysis of triglyceride by lipase was studied by using four microbial lipases. The amount of esterified product (glycerides) was estimated by assaying incorporated [1-¹⁴C]oleic acid which was added to the reaction mixture in the course of triolein hydrolysis. The extent of esterification during glyceride hydrolysis differed among the four lipases. Rhizopus delemar lipase was found to esterify the most, followed by Penicillium cyclopium lipase. Lipases from Aspergillus niger and Geotrichum candidum did not show marked esterifying activity during hydrolysis of glycerides. Synthesis of monoolein from hydrolysis products (glycerol and oleic acid) was not observed for any lipase used in reaction mixtures for triolein hydrolysis. The esterifying activity that was observed during hydrolysis of triglyceride is considered to be one of the main causes for diversity in the time course of triglyceride hydrolysis by the four lipases.