Ester synthesis, lipase components

Esters are common components in cosmetics and skin-care products. They can be synthesized from fatty acids and alcohols using either chemical or enzymatic reactions. The chemical reactions are normally catalysed by acid catalysts. Enzymatic synthesis is carried out under milder conditions and therefore it provides products of very high purity. A range of esters such as isopropyl palmitate and isopropyl myristate are now produced industrially using enzymatic synthesis. The reactions are carried out in solvent-free systems using an immobilised lipase as catalyst. In order to get high yields in the reactions, water is removed continuously. 

The temperature optimum for interesterification is 85°C or higher, and the half-life in continuous acidolysis of spy bean oil with lauric acid at 60°C is above 2500 h. The non-specificity makes the catalyst useful in random interesterification of different fats. The catalyst has some saturated fatty acid specificity. Two lipase components (A and B) were purified. Lipase A is important for interesterification, and Lipase B is important in ester synthesis. 

The activities of the immobilized lipase components in ester synthesis have also been tested. Myristic acid was esterified with propanol, isopropanol, and oleic alcohol, respectively (Table X). 

An elegant method to suppress the undesired spontaneous hydrolysis of a 5(47/)-oxazolone in aqueous media uses a lipase-catalyzed alcoholysis reaction. Of particular importance is the synthesis of /crt-leucine, a non-proteinogenic a-amino acid that has found widespread use both as a chiral auxiliary and as a component of potentially therapeutic pseudopeptides. Racemic 4-/ert-butyl-2-phenyl-5(47/)-oxazolone 238 was submitted to Mucor miehei catalyzed alcoholysis using butanol as a nucleophile. Addition of a catalytic amount of triethylamine promoted in situ racemization. In this way, the enantiomericaUy pure butyl ester of (5)-A-benzoyl-/ert-leucine 239 was obtained in excellent yield (Scheme 7.75). 

Both IDL and LDL can be removed from the circulation by the liver, which contains receptors for ApoE (IDL) and ApoB-100 (IDL and LDL). After IDL or LDL interacts with these receptors, they are internalized by the process of receptor-mediated endocytosis. Receptors for ApoB-100 are also present in peripheral tissues, so that clearance of LDL occurs one-half by the liver and one-half by other tissues. In the liver or other cells, LDL is degraded to cholesterol esters and its other component parts. Cholesterol esters are hydrolyzed by an acid lipase and may be used for cellular needs, such as the building of plasma membranes or bile salt synthesis, or they may be stored as such. Esterification of intracellular cholesterol by fatty acids is carried out by acyl-CoA-cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT). Free cholesterol derived from LDL inhibits the biosynthesis of endogenous cholesterol. B-100 receptors are regulated by endogenous cholesterol levels. The higher the latter, the fewer ApoB-100 receptors are on the cell surface, and the less LDL uptake by cells takes place. 

More general information about the potential role of apoE in cellular lipoprotein uptake has come from studies with cultured cells (e.g., fibroblasts). Such cells manifest surface receptors for LDL that bind apoB, the protein component of LDL. This is followed by receptor-mediated endocytosis, fusion of the endo-cytic vesicles with lysosomes, and LDL degradation within the lysosomes (see Goldstein and Brown, 1979 Brown et al., 1981, for reviews and references). Cholesteryl esters taken into cells in this manner are hydrolyzed by a lysosomal acid lipase. The liberated cholesterol then leaves the lysosome and is used in the cell for membrane synthesis and as a regulator of intracellular cholesterol homeostasis. 

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