Reactive properties of the organic solvent-soluble lipase

In a previous report, the organic solvent-soluble lipase was prepared using a synthetic detergent, didodecyl glucosyl glutamate, and it was estimated that 150 +/- 30 molecules of the detergent were attached to one lipase molecule based on gel permeation chromatography and chemical analysis. In this paper, the reactivity of the organic solvent-soluble lipase was compared with that of the native lipase to study the effect of the surrounding detergent on the thermostability and enzymatic reactivity. The activity of the organic solvent-soluble lipase was preserved in the organic solvents up to a temperature of 50 degrees C as in the case of the native lipase in buffer (pH 7.0). The influence of the chain length of fatty acids of the substrate triacylglycerols on the hydrolysis activities was studied. The organic solvent-soluble lipase hydrolyzed triacylglycerols with longer chains more rapidly than the native lipase. The presence of Ca2+ at 0.1 mM stimulated the activity of the native lipase, whereas Ca2+ at a high concentration inhibited it. On the other hand, even at a low concentration, Ca2+ inhibited the activity of the organic solvent-soluble lipase. These results suggest that the detergent attached to the lipase molecule affected the reactive properties.