Glyceride synthesis catalyzed by cutinase using the monomolecular film technique.

The monomolecular film technique previously used to study the kinetics of lipase hydrolysis was adapted to synthesizing oleoyl glycerides (monoolein, diolein, and triolein). The water subphase was replaced by glycerol, and a film of oleic acid was initially spread on the glycerol surface. In this system a recombinant cutinase from Fusarium solani was able to catalyze oleoyl glyceride synthesis. More than 50% of the oleic acid film was acylated after 7 min of reaction. The surface pressure applied to the monomolecular film acts as a physical selectivity factor since glyceride synthesis can be steered so as to produce either diolein or triolein.