Recombinant microbial lipases for biotechnological applications

Lipases, mainly of microbial origin, represent the most widely used class o f enzymes in biotechnological applications and organic chemistry. Modern me thods of genetic engineering combined with an increasing knowledge of struc ture and function will allow further adaptation to industrial needs and exp loration of novel applications. Production of such tailored lipases require s their functional overexpression in a suitable host. Hence, this article d escribes the functional heterologous production of commercially important m icrobial lipases. Based on the knowledge of different lipases' substrate bi nding sites, the most suitable lipase for a particular application may be s elected. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.