Immobilized phospholipase A1-catalyzed modification of phosphatidylcholine with n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid

• Phospholipase A1 was immobilized on Lewatit VP OC1600 as a carrier.
• n−3 PUFA enriched-phosphatidylcholine was produced by immobilized phospholipase A1.
• The yield of modified phosphatidylcholine was improved by vacuum application.

n−3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (n−3 PUFA)-enriched phosphatidylcholine (PC) was successfully produced with fatty acid from fish oil and PC from soybean by immobilized phospholipase A1-catalyzed acidolysis. Detailed studies of immobilization were carried out, and Lewatit VP OC 1600 was selected as a carrier for preparation of immobilized phospholipase A1, which was used for modification of PC by acidolysis. For acidolysis of PC with n−3 PUFA, the effects of several parameters, namely, water content, temperature, and enzyme loading on the reaction time course were investigated to determine optimum conditions. The optimum water content, temperature, and enzyme loading were 1.0%, 55 °C, and 20%, respectively. The highest incorporation (57.4 mol%) of n−3 PUFA into PC was obtained at 24 h and the yield of PC was 16.7 mol%. The yield of PC increased significantly by application of vacuum, even though a slight decrease of n−3 PUFA incorporation was observed.