PRODUCTION OF 2 TYPES OF NONSPECIFIC LIPASES BY GEOTRICHUM SP FO-274A- A FISH OIL-ASSIMILATING STRAIN

Geotrichum sp. FO 274A was isolated as a microorganism capable of assi milating sardine oil as the sole carbon source. Three FO 274A lipases were purified by ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatograp hies and termed Lipases A, B and C. Lipases A and C hydrolyzed most of the eater bond of the fatty acids contained in sardine oil. Lipase B preferentially hydrolyzed the ester bond of the fatty acids of C-16 or C-18 having the cis double bond at the 9-position. The hydrolysis rat e for sardine oil under indicated conditions increased when combinatio ns of the purified lipases were used instead of each purified lipase. A combination of Lipases A and C showed the highest hydrolysis rate fo r sardine oil. The lipases from Geotrichum sp. FO 274A showed the high est hydrolysis rate for sardine oil compared with the lipases similarl y isolated from other Geotrichum sp.