Production of methyl oleate with a lipase from an endophytic yeast isolated from castor leaves

This work aims to optimize lipase production through experimental design and to immobilize these biocatalysts for methyl oleate synthesis. For that, it was applied a 26−3 experimental design to optimize the lipase production, reaching the production of 25 U mL−1. The enzymes produced by submerged fermentation were obtained from an endophytic yeast Candida guillermondi isolated from castor leaves (Ricinus communis L.). The obtained enzyme was partially purified and freeze-dried before the immobilization process using agarose and silica gel supports. The distribution of the enzyme on the silica gel was homogeneous and verified by atomic force microscopy. The free and the immobilized enzymes were evaluated by the methyl oleate synthesis in order to compare the efficiencies of the reaction processes. The immobilization process increased the conversion rates for the synthesis of methyl oleate in all immobilized enzymes experiments. In addition to the immobilization process ensuring greater efficiency, the immobilized enzyme could also be reused. Therefore, the enzyme used in this work is expected to be a good biocatalyst to be applied in ester synthesis in the food and biofuel industry or laboratorial applications.

► Yeast was isolated from castor leaves and cultivated for the production of lipase.
► Free and immobilized enzyme were used to synthesize methyl oleate.
► Atomic force microscopy indicated homogeneous distribution of the enzyme.
► Immobilization allows the reuse and also maintained enzyme activity.