SELECTIVE LIPID HYDROLYSIS BY GEOTRICHUM-CANDIDUM NRRL Y-553 LIPASE

A crude preparation of lipases from the fungus Geotrichum candidum NRRL Y-553,which shows specificity toward cis-9 unsaturated fatty acids, was used to hydrolyze natural fats and oils, with the goal of producing industrially useful fatty acid and/or mono- and diacylglycerols products. Tallow and soy oil were hydrolyzed, producing free fatty acids high in oleic or cis-9 unsaturates, respectively. Hydrolysis of rapeseed oil produced acylglycerols enriched in erucic acid.