Substrate selectivity of various lipases in the esterification of cis- and trans-9-octadecenoic acid.

The substrate selectivity of numerous commercially available lipases from microorganisms, plants and animal tissue towards 9-octadecenoic acids with respect to the cis/trans configuration of the C=C double bond was examined by the esterification of cis- and trans-9-octadecanoic acid (oleic and elaidic acid respectively) with n-butanol in n-hexane. A great number of lipases studied, e.g.