Biotechnology Letters, Vol.20, No.5, 499-505, 1998
Treatment of Candida rugosa lipase with short-chain polar organic solvents enhances its hydrolytic and synthetic activities
Following a simple and quick treatment based on dissolving the crude lipase from Candida rugosa in different percentages (v/v) of several polar organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, 1 and 2-propanol, 1 and 2-butanol and acetone) followed by dialysis, different preparations with enhanced activities were obtained. The opening of the lid covering the active site is proposed as the reason for explaining the activity enhancement, both in aqueous and anhydrous organic media.