An insight into microbial lipases and their environmental facet

Abstract

Lipases are serine hydrolases that catalyze the hydrolysis and synthesis of esters formed from glycerol and long-chain fatty acids, by acting at the oil-water interface. Lipases from microbial sources have received heightened attention for an array of industrial applications, and these enzymes have been well exploited in the environmental sector as well. In this article, we present an overview of microbial lipase, including the microorganisms from which it could be produced; the application of recombinant DNA technology tools to produce lipase with enhanced properties, the effective use of waste materials as substrates for lipase production; the usage of statistical tools to efficiently optimize the production medium; lipase purification strategies; and the immobilization of the enzyme on a variety of support materials. The next section of the article provides a gist of its application in diversified spheres and focusses exclusively on the environmentally relevant ones. Lipasecatalyzed esterification, transesterification, and interesterification reactions, an emerging area of green chemistry; lipase-mediated in vitro biopolymer synthesis and degradation; and the application of lipase for remediating fat and oil constituents in wastewater are dealt with in-depth. When its full potential is harnessed, the enzyme could play a pivotal role in environmental management.

Recent advances on sources and industrial applications of lipases

“…Their production is greatly influenced by medium composition besides physicochemical factors such as temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen . More details on microbial lipases can be noted from recently reported review papers covering the overview on microbial lipases, microbial alkaline lipases, and purification of microbial lipases . Further, it has been recently revealed that microbial lipases can also be obtained through fermentation of agricultural waste and dairy waste contributing to the environmental protection and they may be exploited for future bio‐catalytic applications.…”

“…The skimmed fat‐rich impurities can be easily digested by using lipases from C. rugosa , Pseudomonas, Bacillus , Acinetobacter , etc . Although anaerobic processes employing lipases are widely applied in the treatment of industrial wastewaters, food waste, dairy waste, grease from wool, manure, and waste water from oil mills . Cultivating lipase‐producing bacteria and seeding them in the effluents also helps in treating effluents originating from food processing, tannery, automobile industries, restaurant and fast‐food outlets .…”

“…etc. have been reported to curb the contaminants effectively . Lipases have been effectively applied in bioremediation involving some of the contemporary problems associated with waste oil and pollution .…”

Pretreatment of coconut mill effluent using celite-immobilized hydrolytic enzyme preparation fromStaphylococcus pasteuriand its impact on anaerobic digestion

“…Hence, an alternative strategy of enzymatic hydrolysis could be applied to bring about lipid hydrolysis and improve biological treatment efficiency. Lipase‐producing microbial strains find promising applications in this arena …”

“…Lipase-producing microbial strains find promising applications in this arena. 4 Lipases (triacylglycerol acylhydrolases, EC. 3.1.1.3) are serine hydrolases that catalyze the hydrolysis of esters formed from glycerol and LCFA.…”