Skip to main content
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1985 May;82(10):3192–3196. doi: 10.1073/pnas.82.10.3192

Enzyme-catalyzed processes in organic solvents.

A Zaks, A M Klibanov
PMCID: PMC397741  PMID: 3858815

Abstract

Three different lipases (porcine pancreatic, yeast, and mold) can vigorously act as catalysts in a number of nearly anhydrous organic solvents. Various transesterification reactions catalyzed by porcine pancreatic lipase in hexane obey Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The dependence of the catalytic activity of the enzyme in organic media on the pH of the aqueous solution from which it was recovered is bell-shaped, with the maximum coinciding with the pH optimum of the enzymatic activity in water. The catalytic power exhibited by the lipases in organic solvents is comparable to that displayed in water. In addition to transesterification, lipases can catalyze several other processes in organic media including esterification, aminolysis, acyl exchange, thiotransesterification, and oximolysis; some of these reactions proceed to an appreciable extent only in nonaqueous solvents.

Full text

PDF
3194

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Dastoli F. R., Musto N. A., Price S. Reactivity of active sites of chymotrypsin suspended in an organic medium. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1966 Jul;115(1):44–47. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9861(66)81035-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Inada Y., Nishimura H., Takahashi K., Yoshimoto T., Saha A. R., Saito Y. Ester synthesis catalyzed by polyethylene glycol-modified lipase in benzene. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1984 Jul 31;122(2):845–850. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(84)80111-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. KAUZMANN W. Some factors in the interpretation of protein denaturation. Adv Protein Chem. 1959;14:1–63. doi: 10.1016/s0065-3233(08)60608-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Klibanov A. M. Immobilized enzymes and cells as practical catalysts. Science. 1983 Feb 11;219(4585):722–727. doi: 10.1126/science.219.4585.722. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Maylié M. F., Charles M., Sarda L., Desnuelle P. Action of organophosphates on pancreatic lipase. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1969 Mar 18;178(1):196–198. doi: 10.1016/0005-2744(69)90151-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Takahashi K., Nishimura H., Yoshimoto T., Saito Y., Inada Y. A chemical modification to make horseradish peroxidase soluble and active in benzene. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1984 May 31;121(1):261–265. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(84)90716-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Zaks A., Klibanov A. M. Enzymatic catalysis in organic media at 100 degrees C. Science. 1984 Jun 15;224(4654):1249–1251. doi: 10.1126/science.6729453. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America are provided here courtesy of National Academy of Sciences

RESOURCES