LIPASE AND ESTERASE-ACTIVITIES OF PROPIONIBACTERIUM-FREUDENREICHII SUBSP FREUDENREICHII

The lipase and esterase activities of eight strains of dairy Propionib acterium freudenreichii subsp. freudenreichii were studied. A lipase a ctivity was detected on whole cells and in the culture supernatant. Th e highest activity was expressed at 45-degrees-C and pH 6.8. An estera se activity was also detected in the culture medium. The electrophores is of the intracellular fractions of the cells revealed from three to six different esterase activities. Two esterases were common to all th e strains. The substrate specificity was dependent on each esterase, b ut no activity was revealed, in our experimental conditions, on ester substrates with a chain length longer than that of butyrate.