Activity of bacterial lipases at chilling temperatures Original Research Article

Two Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two Pseudomonas fluorescens, three Aeromonas hydrophila, one Aeromonas caviae, two Staphylococcus aureus and two Serratia marcescens strains were tested for their ability to digest tributyrin at temperatures ranging from −2°C to +7°C over a period of 38 days using a modified agar-diffusion test. Hydrolysis was observed at all of the temperatures investigated, with the exception ofS. marcescens lipases at −2°C. A decrease in storage temperature was associated with a significant reduction of enzyme activity but no complete inactivation — even at −2°C. Initial reactions occurred after 3 days. For practical applications, it can be concluded that during storage of chilled products, lipolytic activity can occur provided that enzyme synthesis has taken place before chilling has started.