Effects of organic solvents on transesterification of phospholipids using phospholipase A2 and lipase

The transesterification abilities of phospholipase A(2) and Mucor javanicus lipase in various organic solvents were studied. Phosphatidylcholine and caprylic acid (molar ratio, 1:6) were transesterified by incubation at 40A degrees C in three organic solvents using phospholipase A(2) and M. javanicus lipase. The fatty acid composition of the reaction product was measured using gas chromatography. Caprylic acid was incorporated into the sn-1 and -2 positions at a rate of 87.7% using phospholipase A(2) in hexane, and 36.7% using M. javanicus lipase in diethyl ether. Higher acyl migration into sn-2 was observed in diethyl ether than in hexane during transesterification using M. javanicus lipase, however, there was no substantial difference in the caprylic acid content at the sn-2 position. Acyl migration during transesterification in methanol was lower than in other organic solvents. Non-polar hexane and diethyl ether were more effective for transesterification than methanol.