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Preparation of DHA-Rich Medium- and Long-Chain Triacylglycerols by Lipase-Catalyzed Acidolysis of Microbial Oil from Schizochytrium sp.with Medium-Chain Fatty Acids

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Abstract

DHA-rich medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT) were produced by lipase-catalyzed acidolysis of microbial oil from Schizochytrium sp. with medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). Four commercial lipases, i.e., NS40086, Novozym 435, Lipozyme RM IM, and Lipozyme TL IM were screened based on their activity and fatty acid specificity. The selected conditions for MLCT synthesis were Lipozyme RM IM as catalyst, reaction time 6 h, lipase load 8 wt%, substrate molar ratio (MCFA/microbial oil) 3:1, and temperature 55 °C. Under the selected conditions, the lipase could be reused successively for 17 cycles without significant loss of lipase activity. The obtained product contained 27.53% MCFA, 95.29% at sn-1,3 positions, and 44.70% DHA, 69.77% at sn-2 position. Fifty-nine types of triacylglycerols (TAG) were identified, in which 35 types of TAG contained MCFA, the content accounting for 55.35%. This product enriched with DHA at sn-2 position and MCFA at sn-1,3 positions can improve its digestion and absorption under an infant’s digestive system, and thus has potential to be used in infant formula to increase the bioavailability of DHA.

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Funding

This study was financed by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31601433) and Jiangsu Provincial Natural Science Foundation (BK20140149).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Food Safety and Quality Control in Jiangsu Province, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China

    Xiaoqiang Zou, LinFeng Ye, Xuechun He, Hui Zhang & Qingzhe Jin

  2. Joint Laboratory of Functional Food for Healthy Body Fat Loss, Chengdu Tianyi Cuisine Nutritious Food Co., Ltd, 360 Tianhui Road, High-tech Zone, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    Shibing Wu

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  1. Xiaoqiang Zou
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Zou, X., Ye, L., He, X. et al. Preparation of DHA-Rich Medium- and Long-Chain Triacylglycerols by Lipase-Catalyzed Acidolysis of Microbial Oil from Schizochytrium sp.with Medium-Chain Fatty Acids. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 191, 1294–1314 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-020-03261-6

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