Substrate specificity of a lipase preparation from Geiotrichum asteroides as a function of the experimental conditions.

A lipase preparation obtained from the culture fluid of the fungus Geotrichum asteroides was shown to hydrolyze natural plant oils well. Tweens and triglycerides, both soluble in water and insoluble, containing saturated fatty acids (tripalmitic, tristearic, trimyristic and tributyric) are barely hydrolyzed. The nature of the emulsifier and the composition of the buffer used in the reaction mixture exert a great influence on the lipolytic activity of G. asteroides. The optimal temperature for the enzyme preparation with respect to all the oils studied was 37 degrees C.