Lipase-catalyzed transesterification of tricaprylin with conjugated linolei
c acid (CLA) ethyl eater was performed to produce triacylglycerols containi
ng conjugated linoleic acid. Six commercially available lipases, and seven
solvents were screened for their ability to incorporate CLA into tricapryli
n. The transesterification reaction was performed by incubating a 1:2 mole
ratio of tricaprylin and CLA ethyl eater in 3 ml solvents at 55 degreesC, a
nd the products were analyzed by gas chromatography. Three lipases, Novozym
435, Lipozym IM and lipase PS-C were chosen to allow a comparison of trans
esterification activity in our model reaction. The highest CLA incorporatio
n with Novozym 435 and Lipozym IM was achieved in hexane while isooctane pr
oduced the highest CLA incorporation with lipase PS-C. Lipase PS-C gave hig
her CLA incorporation into tricaprylin when fatty acid was used as the acyl
donor than other lipases did. Lipozym IM and lipase PS-C had not restrict
specificity to sn-1, 3 positions, even though they had high specificity at
sn-1, 3 positions. Novozym 435 among lipases tested was the most effective
on the incorporation of CLA into tricaprylin. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd
. All rights reserved.