Biotechnological prospects of the lipase from Mucor javanicus

• MJL is a long time commercialized enzyme but no in immobilized form.
• The enzyme is in situ immobilized during production, but has been used in many immobilization protocols.
• MJL has been used as biocatalyst in fine chemistry.
• In oil modification, the main feature is a lack of recognition of γ-linolenic acid.

This review intends to give a view of the properties and uses of the lipase from Mucor javanicus (MJL) (currently Mucor circinelloides). MJL was described in 1969, its structure is still to be resolved and published. The enzyme is commercialized, but not in any immobilized form; this may have reduced its use by academic groups. This review shows the main features of the enzyme, the immobilization efforts (from mycelium bound enzymes to sophisticated immobilization protocols) and the use of the enzyme in fine chemistry and oil and fats modification. Special interest has been paid to researches where MJL has been compared to other lipases.

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