Plant lipases – molecular structure, role in ontogeny and biotechnological potential

Lipases are enzymes commonly found in microorganisms, fungi, plants and animals. Their main function in cell metabolism is the hydrolysis (lipolysis) of ester bonds between fatty acids and glycerol in mono-, di- and triacylglycerols. In plants, lipases play an important role in ontogeny, participating in both vegetative development and generative stages. These enzymes may also be a component of plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Based on the similarity of the amino acid sequence and vacuolar localization of some plant lipases to yeast Atg15, we present a hypothesis about the participation of lipases in autophagy (precisely, in the degradation of the autophagic body) in plants. Despite the narrow substrate specificity and the type of reactions catalysed in cells, lipases find numerous biotechnological applications. The physicochemical features of lipases, which determine, for example, wide substrate specificity in vitro or high stability in a wide range of pH and temperature, make these enzymes the subject of applied research, and plant lipases show an increasing potential in this area of science and industry.