Synthesis of fatty acid esters by a recombinant cutinase in reversed micelles

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Abstract
Fusarium solani pisi recombinant cutinase, solubilized in AOT/isooctane‐reversed micelles, was used to catalyze the esterification of fatty acids with aliphatic alcohols. Some relevant parameters for the enzyme activity such as pH, Wo (water/surfactant molar ratio), temperature, and substrate concentration were optimized. Maximal specific activity was obtained for hexanol. The cutinase showed selectivity for short‐chain fatty acids. The stability of the microencapsulated cutinase was investigated at various concentrations of water and different values of pH. Oleic acid had a negative effect on the cutinase stability, while hexanol proved to be a strong stabilizer increasing the half‐life of the enzyme about 45 times. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.