Low temperature organic phase biocatalysis using cold-adapted lipase from psychrotrophic Pseudomonas P38

Lipase produced by a psychrotroph, Pseudomonas fluorescens P38, was found to catalyse the synthesis of butyl caprylate in n-heptane at low temperatures. The optimum yield of ester synthesis was 75% at 20 °C with an organic phase water concentration of 0.25% (vv). The results are discussed in terms of the structural flexibility of psychrotroph-derived lipase and the activity of this enzyme within a nearly anhydrous organic solvent phase.