MICROBIAL LIPASES: POTENTIAL BIOCATALYSTS FOR THE FUTURE INDUSTRIES

Abstract

Today, lipases stand among the most important biocatalyste which carrying out novel reactions in both aqueous and nonaqueous media. This is primarily due to their ability to utilize a wide spectrum of substrates, high stability towards extremes of temperature, pH and organic solvents, and chemo-, region- and enantioselectivity. More recently, the determination of their three-dimensional structure has thrown light into their unique structure-function relationship. Among lipases from plant, animal and microbial origin, it is the microbial lipases that find immense application. This is because microbs can be easily cultivated and their lipases can catalyse a wide variety of hydrolytic and synthetic reactions. Lipases find use in a variety of biotechnological fields such as food and dairy, detergent, pharmaceutical, agrochemical and oleochemical industries. Lipases can be further exploited in many newer areas where can serve as potential biocatalysts.