Enzymatic Acylation of Sterylglycosides

Abstract

Specific acylation of sterylglycosides with enzyme was carried out for 20 commercially available lipases. Lipase OF from Candida sylindracea indicated the highest acylation in chloroform and phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). In chloroform, lipase OF introduced saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with 8 to 18 carbons introduced into the hydroxyl group at the 6-position of sugar moiety. But the acylation of fatty acids branched at carbon adjacent to the carboxyl group proceeded with considerable difficulty. In phosphate buffer, unsaturated fatty acids were introduced to a greater extent than in chloroform, but still the acylation of saturated fatty acids proceeded to a lesser degree owing to low solubility in phosphate buffer. Reaction time longer than 96 h casused the formation of di-acylated sterylglycosides. A standard substance for determining acylated sterylglycosides could be prepared by the present method