Biotransformations are processes, in which chemical reactions are catalyzed by isolated enzymes or whole cells containing them. Among the biocatalysts, lipases are the most commonly used chiral selectors that exhibit high chemo-, regio-, and stereo-selectivity toward wide spectrum of organic compounds of xenobiothic nature. Moreover, lipases are very stable and active in organic solvents, as well as in neat solvents or in supercritical fluids in the absence of added water. Biotransformations by using lipases can be carried out at high substrate concentrations, at ambient temperature and neutral pH, without need for addition of cofactors, application of high pressures, extremely harsh reaction conditions or complex chemical apparatus. In addition, processes based on efficient biocatalytic technologies has proven to be beneficial for the chemical industry, as the lipases are able to catalyze reactions, which are not easily conducted by classical methods or in other cases allow reactions, which can replace several chemical steps. The above mentioned features of lipase-based biotransformations often cause significant improvement in energy efficiency (savings), and lead to a reduction in waste generation thereby making manufacturing processes even more economically attractive and environmentally acceptable. Since the mid-1980s the use of biotransformations with lipases in industry for the production of high added-value compounds, including pharmaceuticals, vitamins, cosmetics, fragrances and flavors, diagnostic preparations and therapeutics, high-tonnage preparation of agrochemicals, modified foods, nutraceuticals, detergents, polymers, advanced materials and biofuels has steadily increased. In this part of the review article on industrial applications of lipases, next group of popularly utilized enzymes relevant for the production of high added-value chemicals are described. It was also shown on several examples that enzymatic catalysis can significantly simplify manufacturing processes of complex structures being green and economical alternative for conventional chemical-based processes. Keywords:
Lipases (EC 3.1.1.3; triacylglycerol acylhydrolases) are the most commonly used enzymes in biotransformations of organic compounds. In living organisms lipases catalyze hydrolysis of higher fatty acid esters of glycerol, thus fulfill an essential function in metabolism of lipids (e.g. fats and oils) and lipoproteins. This year marks 125 years since J.R. Green has identified and described the first lipase isolated from germinated castor-oil beans (Ricinus communis L.) in the form of an extract showing hydrolytic properties. Plants, as well as bacteria are able to produce lipases what was reported in 1901 by Dutch scientist ‒ Christiaan Eijkman. Lipases are also produced by fungi, yeasts, and various organs of higher organisms. A strong foundation, which had a huge impact on the development of global lipase-mediated biotransformations was the discovery made in 1935 and described in Biochemistry Journal and Biochemische Zeitschrift by Polish biochemist- -enzymologist Ernest Alexander Sym (1893-1950) that these enzymes retain almost full catalytic activity even in nearly anhydrous organic solvents. This was exactly fifty years before Russian chemist Alexander Klibanov in 1985 described a lipase- -catalyzed reaction carried out in organic solvents. Since that moment, lipases have became extremely popular in both academic and industrial usage, nowadays being the most important among all biocatalysts used in biochemical processes carried out on an industrial scale. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief characterization of the two most widely used in industrial biotransformations lipases ‒ lipase B from Candida antarctica (CAL-B) and lipase from Burkholderia cepacia (BCL) ‒ and familiarize the readers with the issues of biotechnological processes catalyzed by them. The specifics of a range of industrial applications based on lipase catalysis, including the chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries are also discussed. Keywords:
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