Hydrolase Enzymes for Selective Lipid Hydrolysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying triacylglycerides from natural sources are costly and inefficient due to the presence of structurally and chemically similar compounds, and there is a need for enzymes that can selectively hydrolyze saturated fatty acids like palmitic and stearic acids from glycerol backbones to control fatty acid content and distribution in lipids.
Innovation Solution
Development of novel polypeptides with hydrolase activity, including lipases, saturases, palmitases, and stearatases, which are thermostable and thermotolerant, capable of hydrolyzing, acidolysing, transesterifying, and synthesizing lipids, allowing for the production of low saturate oils and structured lipids with defined fatty acid distributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fractional chromatography or distillation is used to purify triacylglycerides, then high purity can be achieved, but the process is costly and yields are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs enzymatic hydrolysis using specific lipases that selectively target saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic acids) at different positions (sn-1,3 and sn-2) of the triacylglyceride molecule. This biochemical parameter change enables selective removal of undesirable fatty acids while preserving the desired structured lipids, achieving both high purity and improved yield without the need for costly fractional chromatography or distillation processes
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional lipases are used for hydrolysis, then general lipase activity is achieved, but selective hydrolysis of saturated fatty acids is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a combination of two distinct lipase enzymes with different substrate specificities: one lipase that preferentially hydrolyzes saturated fatty acids at the sn-1,3 positions and another lipase that hydrolyzes saturated fatty acids at the sn-2 position. This segmentation of the hydrolysis function across multiple specialized enzymes enables complete and selective removal of palmitic and stearic acids from all positions on the glycerol backbone, achieving both adaptability and manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs lipases with broad substrate specificity that can act on various triacylglyceride structures containing saturated fatty acids. The enzymes are designed to recognize and hydrolyze ester bonds regardless of the specific fatty acid chain length or unsaturation level, while maintaining selectivity for saturated fatty acids. This multi-functional capability allows the same enzymatic system to process different oil sources and produce various structured lipid products
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These enzymes enable the efficient production of low saturate oils and structured lipids with improved physical, chemical, and biological properties, enhancing the value of lipids by controlling fatty acid content and distribution, and can be used in various industrial, pharmaceutical, and food processing applications.
Implementation Method 1
Lipases, such as saturases, e.g. palmitases and/or stearatases can be used to effect such control where the FA being removed, added or replaced are saturated fatty acids, e.g. palmitatic acid or stearic acid
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are hydrolases, including lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases, and polynucleotides encoding them, and methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. Further provided are polypeptides, e.g., enzymes, having a hydrolase activity, e.g., lipases, saturases, palmitases and/or stearatases and methods for preparing low saturate or low trans fat oils, such as low saturate or low trans fat animal or vegetable oils, e.g., soy or canola oils.