[The characterization of microbial lipases. 2. The determination of lipase specificity]

Types of lipase specificity are as follows: Positional specificity; fatty acid specificity; stereospecificity; substrate specificity (different rates of lipolysis of different glyceride classes. The acylglycerol used for determination of lipase specificity must be so structured, that specificities are not confused and unambiguous results are obtained. Different substrates and methods for detection of specificity are reviewed and advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Positional specificity can be determined with synthetic dialkylacylglycerols and 2,3-dioleoyl butanediol. Stereospecificity can be detected with enantiomeric dialkylacylglycerols or diacylalkylglycerols.