A controlled fed-batch cultivation for the production of new crude lipases from Candida rugosa with improved properties in fine chemistry

A controlled constant feeding rate fed-batch strategy using oleic acid as inducer produced a crude lipase preparation from Candida rugosa (CRL-UAB) with higher protein content, carbohydrate content and lipase activity than commercial Sigma type VII CRL. CRL-UAB was partially characterised and tested in selective biotransformations of chiral compounds in aqueous (2-hydroxy 4-phenyl butanoic acid ethyl ester (HPBE)) and organic media (2-phenyl propionic acid and ketoprofen). CRL-UAB showed higher substrate specificity and enantioselectivity in aqueous media compared to Sigma CRL. Also, higher specific initial rates with 2-phenyl propionic acid and ketoprofen were observed in organic media. The influence of water on the esterification of ketoprofen was not relevant with CRL-UAB under the conditions tested, whereas a dramatic influence was observed in Sigma CRL. Different CRL-UAB batches obtained under the same cultivation controlled conditions were identical from the point of view of chromatographic behaviour, immobilisation rates and catalytic properties, indicating that a reproducible C. rugosa lipase extract had been obtained. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science: B.V. All rights reserved.