Production of 4-Ethyl Malate through Position-Specific Hydrolysis of Photobacterium lipolyticum M37 Lipase

• Published in: Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 32; no. 5; pp. 672 - 679
• Main Authors: Lim, Chae Ryeong, Lee, Ha young, Uhm, Ki-Nam, Kim, Hyung Kwoun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 한국미생물생명공학회 31.05.2022
• Subjects: 4-ethyl malate; ArF photoresist; M37 lipase; position-specificity; 4-ethyl malate; ArF photoresist; M37 lipase; position-specificity
• ISSN: 1017-7825; 1738-8872

Microbial lipases are used widely in the synthesis of various compounds due to their substrate specificity and position specificity. 4-Ethyl malate (4-EM) made from diethyl malate (DEM) is an important starting material used to make argon fluoride (ArF) photoresist. We tested several microbial lipases and found that Photobacterium lipolyticum M37 lipase position-specifically hydrolyzed DEM to produce 4-EM. We purified the reaction product through silica gel chromatography and confirmed that it was 4-EM through nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. To mass-produce 4-EM, DEM hydrolysis reaction was performed using an enzyme reactor system that could automatically control the temperature and pH. Effects of temperature and pH on the reaction process were investigated. As a result, 50℃ and pH 4.0 were confirmed as optimal reaction conditions, meaning that M37 was specifically an acid lipase. When the substrate concentration was increased to 6% corresponding to 0.32 M, the reaction yield reached almost 100%. When the substrate concentration was further increased to 12%, the reaction yield was 81%. This enzyme reactor system and position-specific M37 lipase can be used to mass-produce 4-EM, which is required to synthesize ArF photoresist.