Increasing the activity and enantioselectivity of lipases by sol-gel immobilization: further advancements of practical interest

The entrapment of lipases in hydrophobic silicate matrices formed by sol-gel mediated hydrolysis of RSi(OCH3)3/Si(OCH3)4 as originally reported in 1996 has been improved over the years by a number of modifications. In the production of second-generation sol-gel lipase immobilizates, a variety of additives during the sol-gel process leads to increased activity and enhanced stereoselectivity in esterifying kinetic resolution. Recent advances in this type of lipase immobilization are reviewed here, in addition to new results regarding the sol-gel entrapment of the lipase from Burkholderia cepacia. It constitutes an excellent heterogeneous biocatalyst in the acylating kinetic resolution of two synthetically and industrially important chiral alcohols, rac-sulcatol and rac-trans-2-methoxycyclohexanol. The observation that the catalyst can be used 10 times in recycling experiments without losing its significant activity or enantioselectivity demonstrates the practical viability of the sol-gel approach.

Homologous yeast lipases/acyltransferases exhibit remarkable cold-active properties

Lipases/acyltransferases catalyse acyltransfer to various nucleophiles preferentially to hydrolysis even in aqueous media with high thermodynamic activity of water (a w >0.9). Characterization of hydrolysis and acyltransfer activities in a large range of temperature (5 to 80 °C) of secreted recombinant homologous lipases of the Pseudozyma antarctica lipase A superfamily (CaLA) expressed in Pichia pastoris, enlighten the exceptional cold-activity of two remarkable lipases/acyltransferases: CpLIP2 from Candida parapsilosis and CtroL4 from Candida tropicalis. The activation energy of the reactions catalysed by CpLIP2 and CtroL4 was 18-23 kJ mol(-1) for hydrolysis and less than 15 kJ mol(-1) for transesterification between 5 and 35 °C, while it was respectively 43 and 47 kJ mol(-1) with the thermostable CaLA. A remarkable consequence is the high rate of the reactions catalysed by CpLIP2 and CtroL4 at very low temperatures, with CpLIP2 displaying at 5 °C 65 % of its alcoholysis activity and 45 % of its hydrolysis activity at 30 °C. These results suggest that, within the CaLA superfamily and its homologous subgroups, common structural determinants might allow both acyltransfer and cold-active properties. Such biocatalysts are of great interest for the efficient synthesis or functionalization of temperature-sensitive lipid derivatives, or more generally to lessen the environmental impact of biocatalytic processes.

Effects of Regioselectivity and Lipid Class Specificity of Lipases on Transesterification, Exemplified by Biodiesel Production

Lipase-catalyzed ethanolysis of triolein was studied as a model for biodiesel production. Four lipases were immobilized on porous polypropylene, and ethanolysis reactions were carried out in methyl t-butyl ether. The reaction products were analyzed using gas chromatography. Three of the four lipases studied were efficient in the conversion of triolein to 2-monoolein, but slow in the final step of producing glycerol. However, Candida antarctica lipase B was slow in the conversion of triolein, but more efficient in the subsequent two steps than the other lipases. The 1,3-selectivity of the lipases was less pronounced for the monooleins than for triolein. Silica gel was investigated as a catalyst for acyl migration, showing an increase in biodiesel yield with three of the lipases, but a reduction in yield when C. antarctica lipase B was used. The highest biodiesel yield (96 %) was obtained with a combination of Rhizopus arrhizus lipase and C. antarctica lipase B.

Preparation of robust biocatalyst based on cross-linked enzyme aggregates entrapped in three-dimensionally ordered macroporous silica

With the aim to provide a highly stable and active biocatalyst, cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of lipase Candida sp. 99-125 were prepared in three-dimensionally ordered macroporous silica materials (CLEAs-LP@3DOM-SiO2). Lipase Candida sp. 99-125 was first precipitated in the pores of 3DOM SiO2 (named EAs-LP@3DOM-SiO2), and further cross-linked by glutaraldehyde to form CLEAs-LP@3DOM-SiO2. Saturated ammonium sulfate was used as a precipitant and glutaraldehyde with a concentration of 0.25% (w/w) was employed as a cross-linker. Compared with EAs-LP@3DOM-SiO2 and native lipase, CLEAs-LP@3DOM-SiO2 exhibited excellent thermal and mechanical stability, and could maintain more than 85% of initial activity after 16 days of shaking in organic and aqueous phase. When CLEAs-LP@3DOM-SiO2 was applied in esterification and transesterification reactions, improved activity and reusability were achieved. This method can be used for the immobilization of other enzymes of interest.

Immobilization of Amano Lipase A onto Stöber silica surface: process characterization and kinetic studies

The immobilization of Amano Lipase A from Aspergillus niger by adsorption onto Stöber silica matrix obtained by sol-gel method was studied. The effectiveness of the enzyme immobilization and thus the usefulness of the method was demonstrated by a number of physicochemical analysis techniques including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), porous structure of the support and the products after immobilization from the enzyme solution with various concentration at different times. The analysis of the process’ kinetics allowed the determination of the sorption parameters of the support and optimization of the process. The optimum initial concentration of the enzyme solution was found to be 5 mg mL-1, while the optimum time of the immobilization was 120 minutes. These values of the variable parameters of the process were obtained by as ensuring the immobilization of the largest possible amount of the biocatalyst at

Enantioselective transesterification of (R,S)-2-pentanol catalyzed by a new flower-like nanobioreactor

The lipase-incorporated nanoflower was prepared and used for the resolution of (R,S)-2-pentanol with vinyl acetate as acyl donor in n-hexane.

Hybrid periodic mesoporous organosilica designed to improve the properties of immobilized enzymes

Hybrid organosilica supports synthesized with pore size adjusted to enzyme dimensions provide high stability in organic solvent systems and prevent leaching.

Water-in-oil microemulsion doped with gold nanoparticle decorated single walled carbon nanotube: scaffold for enhancing lipase activity

The present work reports the development of water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsion doped with newly designed nanocomposite comprising of gold nanoparticle (GNP) decorated single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT). This nanocomposite included cationic reverse micelle was used to boost the catalytic activity of a surface-active enzyme, Chromobacterium viscosum lipase (CV lipase). SWNT was non-covalently dispersed using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetylalaninetrimethylammonium chloride (CATAC) while GNP was synthesized by reduction of HAuCl4 with reducing/stabilizing agent trisodium citrate. Counterion exchange between cationic SWNT dispersing agent and anionic capping agent of GNP led to the formation of GNP decorated SWNT (SWNT-GNP) nanocomposite. This newly developed SWNT-GNP included CTAB reverse micelle was characterized by several microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Interfacially located SWNT-GNP included w/o microemulsion (confirmed from biphasic and fluorescence experiment) was used as a proficient host for enhancing the catalytic activity of lipase. Lipase activity within this self-assembled soft nanocomposite improved up to 3.9-fold (second order rate constant, k2=1694±16 cm(3) g(-1) s(-1)) compared to standard CTAB reverse micelle (k2=433±7 cm(3) g(-1) s(-1)). In case of cetyltripropyl ammonium bromide (CTPAB) based reverse micelle, the observed lipase activity improved to k2=2036±11 cm(3) g(-1) s(-1) in the presence of SWNT-GNP composite. Notably, this catalytic activity of lipase within SWNT-GNP included reverse micelle was till date the highest activity found in any w/o microemulsion. The attainment of flexibility in enzyme conformation at the augmented interface was verified using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy.

Combi-protein coated microcrystals of lipases for production of biodiesel from oil from spent coffee grounds

Background

Replacing chemical catalysts with biocatalysts is a widely recognized goal of white biotechnology. For biocatalytic processes requiring low water containing media, enzymes for example commercial preparations of lipases, show low catalytic efficiencies. Some high activity preparations for addressing this concern have been described. Protein coated microcrystals (PCMC) constitute one such preparation. The present work describes a Combi-PCMC for synthesis of biodiesel from the oil extracted from spent coffee grounds.

Results

Different lipases were screened for biodiesel synthesis from crude coffee oil out of which Novozym 435 gave the best conversion of 60% in 4 h. Optimization of reaction conditions i.e. % water, temperature and purification of coffee oil further enhanced conversion upto 88% in 24 h. A mixture of Novozym 435 and a cheap commercially available 1,3-specific lipase RMIM (from Mucor miehei) was used in different ratios and 1:1 was found to be the best trade-off between conversion and cost. The commercial preparations then were replaced by a novel biocatalyst design called Combi-Protein coated microcrystals (Combi-PCMC) wherein CAL B and Palatase were co-immobilized with K2SO4 as the core and this performed equivalent to the commercial preparations giving 83% conversion in 48 h.

Conclusion

Coffee oil extracted from spent coffee grounds could be used for the synthesis of biodiesel by using appropriate commercial preparations of lipases. The expensive commercially immobilized preparations can also be replaced by a simpler and inexpensive immobilization design called combi-PCMC which synergizes the catalytic action of a nonspecific lipase CAL B and a free form of 1,3-specific lipase from Mucor miehei.