LIPASES: AN EFFICIENT BIOCATALYST FOR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS

Lipases (3.1.1.3) are ubiquitous, biogenic enzymes which hydrolyses the triacylglycerols at the water-oil interface. Many species of animals, plants, and microbes produces lipases. The organisms able to produce lipases which could tolerate organic solvents, high temperature, is of industrial interest. Apart from its natural aqueous catalysis it also performs synthetic reactions in non-aqueous conditions, which have undergone tremendous development in last decade and have become a part of growing biotechnological applications. Immobilization of lipases on the particulate carriers have also been widely used for the enzyme’s efficient use. Vast industrial applications have been established such as detergent formulations, oleochemical, nutrition, textile, agrochemical industry, food technology, pharmaceutical field and fine chemical processing. Except latter three, most commercial applications do not requisite excessive purification or high degree of purity.