Aspergillus Lipases: Biotechnological and Industrial Application

• Published in: Fungal Metabolites pp. 639 - 666
• Main Authors: Contesini, Fabiano Jares, Calzado, Felipe, Madeira, Jose Valdo, Rubio, Marcelo Ventura, Zubieta, Mariane Paludetti, de Melo, Ricardo Rodrigues, Gonçalves, Thiago Augusto
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing
• Series: Reference Series in Phytochemistry
• Subjects: Biotechnological applications; Biotechnology; Immobilization; Lipase production; Lipase properties; Lipases
• ISBN: 9783319250007; 3319250000
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-25001-4_17

Lipases are enzymes with remarkable properties and catalytic versatility. These proteins are capable of catalyzing hydrolytic and synthetic reactions, allowing the production of different compounds. Aspergillus are important producers of lipases, since they are able to secrete large amounts of these proteins to the extracellular media. Several studies have reported the importance of fermentation parameters as well as genetic engineering of Aspergillus strains in order to improve lipase production. Different Aspergillus species secrete lipases with interesting characteristics such as thermostability, stability in a wide pH range, stability in organic solvents, and enantioselectivity toward the substrate. The obtainment of lipases with highlighted characteristics for use in industry is the main focus of several studies. Such lipases can be obtained with screening of Aspergillus strains, protein engineering, and immobilization of lipases that can frequently improve thermostability and enantioselectivity. Among the applications of lipases from Aspergillus, there are studies on the improvement of sensorial properties of different products in the food industry, compatibility with detergents for removal of fat stains from fabrics, and the obtainment of enantiopure pharmaceuticals.