A computational search for lipases that can preferentially hydrolyze long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil triacylglycerols

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 173; pp. 1030 - 1036
• Main Authors: Kamal, Md. Zahid, Barrow, Colin J., Rao, Nalam Madhusudhana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15-04-2015
• Subjects: Catalytic Domain; Covalent docking; DHA; Docosahexaenoic Acids - chemistry; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - chemistry; EPA; Fatty Acids - chemistry; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - chemistry; Fish Oils - chemistry; Lipase; Lipase - chemistry; Lipase - metabolism; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Omega-3 fatty acids; Triglycerides - chemistry; Triglycerides - metabolism; Covalent docking; DHA; Lipase; Omega-3 fatty acids; EPA
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.10.124

•Omega-3 fatty acid containing triglycerides were docked on all lipases with known structure.•Both non-covalent and covalent docking experiments were performed.•Lipases showing preferences for omega-3 fatty acids were identified.•Size of active sites was the major determinant of triglyceride selectivity.
Consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids is known to decrease the risk of major cardiovascular events. Lipases, a class of triacylglycerol hydrolases, have been extensively tested to concentrate omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils, under mild enzymatic conditions. However, no lipases with preference for omega-3 fatty acids selectivity have yet been discovered or developed. In this study we performed an exhaustive computational study of substrate–lipase interactions by docking, both covalent and non-covalent, for 38 lipases with a large number of structured triacylglycerols containing omega-3 fatty acids. We identified some lipases that have potential to preferentially hydrolyze omega-3 fatty acids from structured triacylglycerols. However omega-3 fatty acid preferences were found to be modest. Our study provides an explanation for absence of reports of lipases with omega-3 fatty acid hydrolyzing ability and suggests methods for developing these selective lipases.