MODEL SUBSTRATES FOR CUTINASES

As a part of our study of microbial cutinases, a mixture of oligomers of 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid has been prepared by partial polymeriza tion to serve as defined substrates. The mixture has been characterize d by spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. Enzyme-catalyzed hydro lysis of the oligomers using fungal lipase, fungal cutinase or bacteri al lipase required the addition of beta-cyclodextrin to the reaction m edium, whereas apple and other naturally occurring cutins can be enzym atically hydrolyzed without the aid of this cyclic oligosaccharide. Th e difference in reactivity may be due to the greater hydrophobicity of the synthetic oligomers compared with natural cutin polymers.