Analysis of Fatty Acid Composition at sn-2 Position of Triacylglycerols (Enzymatic Transesterification Method)

Abstract

The previous enzymatic methods to analyze fatty acid composition at sn-2 (β) position in triacylglycerols (TAG) using hydrolysis of pancreas lipase, ISO 6800 : 1997, or of microbial lipase, JOCS Recommended Method R2-₂₀₁₃, cannot be applied to TAG containing short chain and polyunsaturated fatty acids due to the properties of the lipases. A new method using α-position-selective transesterification by Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) is applicable to TAG with short chain and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and approved as JOCS Standard Method 2.4.5-₂₀₁₆. This paper introduces the principle and the procedure of the standard method. In addition, the propyl esterification is effective to analyze the contents of short chain fatty acids with good reproducibility. The method was approved as JOCS Methods for Reference S 2.2.2.2-₂₀₁₆.