Carica papaya latex lipase: sn -3 stereoselectivity or short-chain selectivity? Model chiral triglycerides are removing the ambiguity

Plant lipases: partial purification of Carica papaya lipase

Lipases from plants have very interesting features for application in different fields. This chapter provides an overview on some of the most important aspects of plant lipases, such as sources, applications, physiological functions, and specificities. Lipases from laticifers and particularly Carica papaya lipase (CPL) have emerged as a versatile autoimmobilized biocatalyst. However, to get a better understanding of CPL biocatalytic properties, the isolation and purification of individual C. papaya lipolytic enzymes become necessary. In this chapter, a practical protocol for partial purification of the latex-associated lipolytic activity from C. papaya is given.

Identification and biochemical characterization of a GDSL-motif carboxylester hydrolase from Carica papaya latex

An esterase (CpEst) showing high specific activities on tributyrin and short chain vinyl esters was obtained from Carica papaya latex after an extraction step with zwitterionic detergent and sonication, followed by gel filtration chromatography. Although the protein could not be purified to complete homogeneity due to its presence in high molecular mass aggregates, a major protein band with an apparent molecular mass of 41 kDa was obtained by SDS-PAGE. This material was digested with trypsin and the amino acid sequences of the tryptic peptides were determined by LC/ESI/MS/MS. These sequences were used to identify a partial cDNA (679 bp) from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of C. papaya. Based upon EST sequences, a full-length gene was identified in the genome of C. papaya, with an open reading frame of 1029 bp encoding a protein of 343 amino acid residues, with a theoretical molecular mass of 38 kDa. From sequence analysis, CpEst was identified as a GDSL-motif carboxylester hydrolase belonging to the SGNH protein family and four potential N-glycosylation sites were identified. The putative catalytic triad was localised (Ser(35)-Asp(307)-His(310)) with the nucleophile serine being part of the GDSL-motif. A 3D-model of CpEst was built from known X-ray structures and sequence alignments and the catalytic triad was found to be exposed at the surface of the molecule, thus confirming the results of CpEst inhibition by tetrahydrolipstatin suggesting a direct accessibility of the inhibitor to the active site.

Characterization of typo-, regio-, and stereo-selectivities of babaco latex lipase in aqueous and organic media

The unripe fruit of babaco (Vasconcellea x heilbornii; syn. Carica pentagona) contains a latex, similar to that in Carica papaya, which exhibits lipolytic activity. Herein, the regioselectivity, stereoselectivity and typoselectivity in both hydrolysis and acyltransfer reactions of babaco latex lipases were studied and compared to those of Carica papaya latex. In hydrolysis, both biocatalysts are 1,3-regioselective with ratios for 1,2-2,3-diacylglycerols/1,3-diacylglycerol of 6.5 and 21 for babaco and papaya, respectively. In contrast, papaya latex had a slight sn-3 stereopreference. Babaco latex displayed a higher activity on triacylglycerols with short chain and unsaturated fatty acids.

Surfactants in microbiology and biotechnology: Part 2. Application aspects

Surfactants are amphiphilic compounds which can reduce surface and interfacial tensions by accumulating at the interface of immiscible fluids and increase the solubility, mobility, bioavailability and subsequent biodegradation of hydrophobic or insoluble organic compounds. Chemically synthesized surfactants are commonly used in the petroleum, food and pharmaceutical industries as emulsifiers and wetting agents. Biosurfactants produced by some microorganisms are becoming important biotechnology products for industrial and medical applications due to their specific modes of action, low toxicity, relative ease of preparation and widespread applicability. They can be used as emulsifiers, de-emulsifiers, wetting and foaming agents, functional food ingredients and as detergents in petroleum, petrochemicals, environmental management, agrochemicals, foods and beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and in the mining and metallurgical industries. Addition of a surfactant of chemical or biological origin accelerates or sometimes inhibits the bioremediation of pollutants. Surfactants also play an important role in enhanced oil recovery by increasing the apparent solubility of petroleum components and effectively reducing the interfacial tensions of oil and water in situ. However, the effects of surfactants on bioremediation cannot be predicted in the absence of empirical evidence because surfactants sometimes stimulate bioremediation and sometimes inhibit it. For medical applications, biosurfactants are useful as antimicrobial agents and immunomodulatory molecules. Beneficial applications of chemical surfactants and biosurfactants in various industries are discussed in this review.

Carica papaya lipase (CPL): an emerging and versatile biocatalyst

In recent years, the Carica papaya lipase (CPL) is attracting more and more interest. This hydrolase, being tightly bonded to the water-insoluble fraction of crude papain, is thus considered as a "naturally immobilized" biocatalyst. To date, several CPL applications have already been described: (i) fats and oils modification, derived from the sn-3 selectivity of CPL as well as from its preference for short-chain fatty acids; (ii) esterification and inter-esterification reactions in organic media, accepting a wide range of acids and alcohols as substrates; (iii) more recently, the asymmetric resolution of different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 2-(chlorophenoxy)propionic acids, and non-natural amino acids. Taking into account the novelty and the current interest of the topic, this review aims to highlight the origin, features, and applications of the C. papaya lipase, with the objective to prompt research groups to further investigate the spectra of applications that this emerging and versatile CPL could have in the future.

Comparison of the lipase activity in hydrolysis and acyl transfer reactions of two latex plant extracts from babaco (Vasconcellea x Heilbornii Cv.) and Plumeria rubra: Effect of the Aqueous microenvironment

The enzymatic properties of Plumeria rubra latex have been evaluated for the first time, showing a high activity in both hydrolysis and synthesis reactions, and compared to the biocatalytic behavior of babaco (Vasconcellea x Heilbornii cv.) latex. Both biocatalysts have been optimized by studying the various parameters that influence reaction kinetics. The optimum temperatures for hydrolysis reactions were 50 and 55 degrees C for babaco and Plumeria, respectively. The optimum pH for babaco latex was 7, whereas for Plumeria latex, two optimal pH values (4 and 7) were observed. With regard to esterification and acyl transfer reactions such as alcoholysis and interesterification, the influence of thermodynamic water activity on reaction yields was determined and correlated with water sorption and desorption isotherms. When babaco latex is used as a biocatalyst, optimal synthesis reaction yields are obtained when the enzymatic extract is stabilized at a water activity value of 0.38, which corresponds to a water content of 5.7%. This optimal level of hydration is located on the linear portion of the biocatalyst's sorption isotherm, where the water molecules exhibit high-energy interactions with the protein network. In synthesis reactions (esterification, alcoholysis, and interesterification) biocatalyzed by Plumeria latex, correlation between best reaction yields and water activity cannot be done. Indeed, the sorption isotherm plot has an atypical shape, indicating that water might be trapped in the latex matrix and, consequently, that the water content of the biocatalyst is highly dependent on the hydration history of the latex.

Hydrolytic resolution of (R,S)-naproxen 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl thioester byCarica papaya lipase in water-saturated organic solvents

For the first time, the Carica papaya lipase (CPL) stored in crude papain is explored as a potential enantioselective biocatalyst for obtaining chiral acids from their racemic thioesters. Hydrolytic resolution of (R,S)-naproxen 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl thioester in water-saturated organic solvents is employed as a model system for studying the effects of temperature and solvents on lipase activity and enantioselectivity. An optimal temperature of 60 degrees C, based on the initial rate of (S)-thioester and a high enantiomeric ratio (i.e., E-value defined as the ratio of initial rates for both substrates) of >100 at 45 degrees C in isooctane, is obtained. Kinetic analysis, considering product inhibition and enzyme deactivation, is also performed, showing agreement between the experimental and best-fit conversions for (S)-thioester. A comparison of the kinetic and thermodynamic behaviors of CPL and Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) in isooctane and cyclohexane indicates that both lipases are very similar in terms of thermodynamic parameters DeltaDeltaH and DeltaDeltaS, initial rate of (S)-substrate, and E-value when (R,S)-naproxen 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl thioester or ester is employed as substrate.

Plant lipases: biocatalyst aqueous environment in relation to optimal catalytic activity in lipase-catalyzed synthesis reactions

Adsorption and desorption isotherms of two commercial enzyme preparations of papain and bromelain were determined with a Dynamic Vapor System. The Guggenheim-Anderson-deBoer (GAB) modeling of the obtained sorption isotherms allowed the definition of different levels of hydration of those samples. Afterward, these enzyme preparations were used as biocatalysts in water and solvent-free esterification and alcoholysis reactions. The evolution of the obtained fatty acid ester level as a function of the initial hydration level of the biocatalyst, i.e., thermodynamic water activity (a(w)) and water content, was studied. The results show an important correlation between the initial hydration level of the biocatalyst and its catalytic activity during the lipase-catalyzed synthesis reactions. Thus, the Carica papaya lipase (crude papain preparation) catalytic activity is highly dependent on the biocatalyst hydration state. The optimized synthesis reaction yield is obtained when the a(w) value of the enzyme preparation is stabilized at 0.22, which corresponds to 2% water content. This optimal level of hydration occurs on the linear part of the biocatalyst's sorption isotherm, where the water molecules can form a mono- or multiple layer with the protein network. The synthesis reaction yield decreases when the a(w) of the preparation is higher than 0.22, because the excess water molecules modify the system equilibrium leading to the reverse and competitive reaction, i.e., hydrolysis. These results show also that an optimal storage condition for the highly hydrophilic crude papain preparation is a relative humidity strictly lower than 70% to avoid an irreversible structural transition leading to a useless biocatalyst. Concerning the bromelain preparation, no effect of the hydration level on the catalytic activity during esterification reactions was observed. This biocatalyst has too weak a catalytic activity which makes it difficult to observe any differences. Furthermore, the bromelain preparation is far more hydrophobic as it adsorbs only 18 g of water per 100 g of dry material at a(w) around 0.90. No deliquescence of this enzymatic preparation is observed at this a(w) value.

Determination of pregastric lipase specificity in young ruminants

The combined hydrolysis of a chiral triglyceride clearly defined on these three positions and of its racemic equivalent reveals all sorts of lipase specificities: regioselectivity, typoselectivity and stereospecificity. This article describes a study of the pregastric lipases of young ruminants (kid, calf, lamb), whose specificity is still somewhat ambiguous. The use of a chiral triglyceride in which position sn 1 was occupied by a short-chain fatty acid showed that these lipases had dual specificity, i.e. a combination of typoselectivity with respect to short-chain fatty acids and sn3 stereospecificity. A comparison between the performance of the lipase of young animals and the fatty acid composition and distribution in the mother's milk suggests that the degree of dual specificity in these enzymes is related to the characteristics of the mother's milk.