Hydrolalse-Mediated Biotransformations
In these biotransformations, enriched glycerides, fatty acids and esters are first obtained by lipase-catalysed hydrolysis, alcoholysis, acidolysis, glycerolysis and transesterification of oils obtained from fish, plant seed or microbes. PUFA level can be increased 2-8 fold depending upon lipid substrate, biocatalyst and the reaction employed. Also, EPA, DHA, DPA, and GLA can be incorporated into seed oil (groundnut, rapeseed, soybean, etc.), to enhance their proportion to 40%, so that these oils can be used in food as cheap PUFA fortified oils, Similarly, mixed glycerides with PUFA level approaching 95% can be obtained by esterification of glycerol with acid concentrates; these are used as components of nutritional supplements, infant formulas, and therapeutic agents.