Cold-Adapted Lipase from Rhizomucor endophyticus Found Suitable for Biodiesel Synthesis

Biodiesel production can be carried out by transesterification using either chemical or enzymatic process. The enzymatic transesterification is more promising as it is environmentally sound. Hence, it is of great value to identify novel lipases which are suitable for biodiesel production.

Qiaojuan Yan from the China Agricultural University cloned a lipase gene (ReLipA) from Rhizomucor endophyticus and expressed it in Pichia pastoris. The recombinant lipase (ReLipA) was then purified and was found to be most active at pH 6.0 and 40°C, and was stable up to 55°C.

ReLipA also displayed 75% of its maximal activity at 0°C, indicating that it is a cold-adapted lipase. It also exhibited broad substrate specificity. Therefore, the recombinant lipase may be a good catalyst in ester synthesis in biodiesel industry. The excellent properties of the enzyme reveal its potential for biodiesel production.