Solvent stable microbial lipases: current understanding and biotechnological applications

ObjectiveThis review examines on our current understanding of microbial lipase solvent tolerance, with a specific focus on the molecular strategies employed to improve lipase stability in a non-aqueous environment.ResultsIt provides an overview of known solvent tolerant lipases and of approaches to improving solvent stability such as; enhancing stabilising interactions, modification of residue flexibility and surface charge alteration. It shows that judicious selection of lipase source supplemented by appropriate enzyme stabilisation, can lead to a wide application spectrum for lipases.ConclusionOrganic solvent stable lipases are, and will continue to be, versatile and adaptable biocatalytic workhorses commonly employed for industrial applications in the food, pharmaceutical and green manufacturing industries.