Improvements in the enzymatic synthesis of phosphatidylserine employing ionic liquids

The aim of this work was to investigate innovative reaction media such as ionic liquids for enzymatic phospholipids transformations in order to get a higher selectivity in the enzymatic transphosphatidylation reactions of natural phosphatidylcholine catalyzed by phospholipase D (PLD) from Streptomyces PMF. The stability and the activity of the PLD in the ionic liquid [BMIM][PF6] were tested. This ionic liquid used as a cosolvent in the synthesis of phosphatidylserine lead surprisingly to the almost quantitative suppression of unwanted hydrolytic side reaction, thus providing a great improvement in the final product purification.

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► We investigate the use of ionic liquids in phospholipids transformations.
► A hydrophobic ionic liquid enhances enzyme selectivity.
► Hydrolysis activity of phospholipase D is inhibited by the presence of a hydrophobic ionic liquid.