ARS | Publication request: Lipase-catalyzed harvesting and/or enrichment of industrially and nutritionally important fatty acids

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2006
Publication Date: September 1, 2007
Citation: Piazza, G.J., Foglia, T.A., Xu, X. 2007. Lipase-catalyzed harvesting and/or enrichment of industrially and nutritionally important fatty acids. In:Rastall, R., editor. Novel Enzyme Technology for Food Applications. Boca Raton, FL:Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge and CRC Press. p. 285-313.

Technical Abstract: Structured lipids are defined as triacylglycerols that have predetermined composition and distribution of fatty acyl groups on the glycerol backbone. Currently there is much interest in ways to produce specialty structured lipids as a means of either incorporating nutritionally important fatty acids into the diet or producing high energy and low calorie lipids. This chapter reviews and discusses recent research on the use of enzymes for the synthesis of structured lipids. The benefits of such structured lipids are discussed, as well as how the selective enzymes can be used to facilitate the synthesis of special structured lipids. Another way that enzymes can be used to aid structured lipid synthesis is through their use as agents for the harvesting of particular fatty acids needed for making specifically designed structured lipids, and examples from the recent literature on structured triglyceride synthesis are presented. Finally commercial routes for making structured lipids using enzymes are summarized.