Effect of fermentation conditions in the enzymatic activity and stereoselectivity of crude lipase from Candida rugosa

Different fed-batch cultures of Candida rugosa were carried out using oleic acid as the only carbon source. The crude lipases obtained under several o perational conditions and downstream processes showed different catalytic a ctivity and isoenzymes ratio. This fact implied that the performance of the lipase produced could be modulated by using different operational fermenta tion conditions. These powders were compared with commercial lipase from Si gma (St. Louis, MO) in hydrolysis and synthesis reactions. Especially inter esting was the fact that the enantioselectivity of a crude lipase was highe r than that observed with commercial lipase in the resolution of racemic Ke toprofen. In addition, response of both lipases in the presence of water wa s different.