Synthesis of designer lipids using papaya (Carica papaya) latex lipase

Ethyl esters (EE) of C-2 to C-14 saturated acids were interesterified with tripalmitin using papaya (Carica papaya) lipase to produce structured triac ylglycerols (TG) with palmitoyl moieties in the secondary (sn-2), and short -chain or medium-chain acyl moieties in the primary (sn-1,3) positions. It was found that thr incorporation of the acyl moieties rose with time and ch ain length of the ethyl ester. Little reaction occurred with ethyl acetate. The positional analysis of the structured TC formed revealed an increase i n preference of the lipase for the primary positions as compared to the sec ondary position with increasing chain length of the acyl donor from C-2 to C-14. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.