Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Carica papaya Lipase: A Naturally Immobilized Enzyme with Interesting Biochemical Properties

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Plant Foods for Human Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Triacylglycerol (TAG) lipases have been thoroughly characterized in mammals and microorganisms, whereas very little is known about plant TAG lipases. The lipolytic activity occurring in all the laticies is known to be associated with sedimentable particles, and all attempts to solubilize the lipolytic activity of Carica papaya latex have been unsuccessful so far. However, some of the biochemical properties of the lipase from Carica papaya latex (CPL) were determined from the insoluble fraction of the latex. The activity was optimum at a temperature of 37°C and a pH of 9.0, and the specific activities of CPL were found to be 2,000 ± 185 and 256 ± 8 U/g when tributyrin and olive oil were used as substrates, respectively. CPL was found to be active in the absence of any detergent, whereas many lipases require detergent to prevent the occurrence of interfacial denaturation. CPL was inactive in the presence of micellar concentrations of Triton X-100, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and tetradecyl trimethylammonium bromide (TTAB), and still showed high levels of activity in the presence of sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC) and the zwitterionic Chaps detergent. The effects of various proteases on the lipolytic activity of CPL were studied, and CPL was found to be resistant to treatment with various enzymes, except in the presence of trypsin. All these properties suggest that CPL may be a good candidate for various biotechnological applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yang XM, Yu W, Ou ZP, Ma HL, Liu WM, Ji XL (2009) Antioxidant and immunity activity of water extract and crude polysaccharide from Ficus carica L. fruit. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 64:167–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Okulicz M (2010) Multidirectional time-dependent effect of sinigrin and allyl isothiocyanate on metabolic parameters in rats. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 65:217–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cambon E, Bourlieu C, Chan Salum TF, Piombo G, Dubreucq E, Villeneuve P (2009) Ability of Vasconcellea × heilbornii lipase to catalyze the synthesis of alkyl esters from vegetable oils. Proc Biochem 44:1265–1269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Fendri I, Chaari A, Dhouib A, Jlassi B, Carrière F, Sayadi S, Abdelkafi S (2010) Isolation, identification and characterization of a new lipolytic Pseudomonas sp., from Tunisian soil. Environ Technol 31:87–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Mukherjee KD, Hills MJ (1994) Lipases from plants. In: Petersen SB (ed), Their Structure, Biochemistry and Characterization. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 49–75

    Google Scholar 

  6. Abdelkafi S, Fouquet B, Barouh N, Durner S, Pina M, Scheirlinckx F, Villeneuve P, Carrière F (2009) In vitro comparisons between Carica papaya and pancreatic lipases during test meal lipolysis: potential use of CPL in enzyme replacement therapy. Food Chem 115:100–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Barouh N, Abdelkafi S, Fouquet B, Pina M, Scheirlinckx F, Carrière F, Villeneuve P (2010) Neutral lipid characterization of non-water-soluble fractions of Carica papaya latex. J Am Oil Chem Soc 87:987–995

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Villeneuve P (2003) Plant lipases and their applications in oils and fats modification. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol 105:308–317

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Wikström N, Savolainen V, Chase MW (2001) Evolution of the angiosperm: Calibrating the family tree. Proc Biol Sci 268:2211–2220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cheng YC, Tsai SW (2007) Carica papaya lipase: An effective biocatalyst for esterification resolution of (RS) -2 -(chlorophenoxy)propionic acid. Biochem Eng J 35:318–324

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Azarkan M, El Moussaoui A, Van Wuytswinkel D, Dehon G, Looze Y (2003) Fractionation and purification of the enzymes stored in the latex of Carica papaya. J Chromatogr B 790:229–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Fiorillo F, Palocci C, Soro S, Pasqua G (2007) Latex lipase of Euphorbia characias L.: An aspecific acylhydrolase with several isoforms. Plant Sci 172:722–727

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Giordani R, Moulin A, Verger R (1991) Tributyroylglycerol hydrolase activity in Carica papaya and other lattices. Phytochemistry 30:1069–1072

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. El Moussaoui A, Nijs M, Paul C, Wintjens R, Vincentelli J, Azarkan M, Looze Y (2001) Revisiting the enzymes stored in the laticifers of Carica papaya in the context of their possible participation in the plant defense mechanism. Cell Mol Life Sci 58:556–570

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Leipner J, Saller R (2000) Systemic enzyme therapy in oncology: Effect and mode of action. Drugs 59:769–780

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Cambon E, Rodriguez JA, Pina M, Arondel V, Carrière F, Turon F, Ruales J, Villeneuve P (2008) Characterization of typo-, regio-, and stereo-selectivities of babaco latex lipase in aqueous and organic media. Biotechnol Lett 30:769–774

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Arif SA, Hamilton RG, Yusof F, Chew NP, Loke YH, Nimkar S, Beintema JJ, Yeang HY (2004) Isolation and characterization of the early nodule-specific protein homologue (Hev b 13), an allergenic lipolytic esterase from Hevea brasiliensis latex. J Biol Chem 279:23933–23941

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Moulin A, Teissere M, Bernard C (1994) Lipases of the Euphorbiaceae family: Purification of a lipase from Euphorbia characias latex and structure-function relationships with the b chain of ricin. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91:11328–11332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Abdelkafi S, Ogata H, Barouh N, Fouquet B, Lebrun R, Pina M, Scheirlinckx F, Villeneuve P, Carrière F (2009) Identification and biochemical characterization of a GDSL-motif carboxylester hydrolase from Carica papaya latex. Biochim Biophys Acta 1791:1048–1056

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Baines BS, Brocklehurst K (1979) Necessary modification to the preparation of papain from any high-quality latex of Carica papaya and evidence for the structural integrity of the enzyme produced by traditional methods. Biochem J 177:541–548

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Abousalham A, Verger R (2000) Egg yolk lipoproteins as substrates for lipases. Biochim Biophys Acta 1485:56–62

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ben Ali Y, Carrière F, Verger R, Petry S, Muller G, Abousalham A (2005) Continuous monitoring of cholesterol oleate hydrolysis by hormone-sensitive lipase and other cholesterol esterases. J Lipid Res 46:994–1000

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Grzela R, Szolajska E, Ebel C, Madern D, Favier A, Wojtal I, Zagorski W, Chroboczek J (2008) Virulence factor of potato virus Y, genome-attached terminal protein VPg, is a highly disordered protein. J Biol Chem 283:213–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ngando Ebongue GF, Dhouib R, Carrière F, Amvam Zollo PH, Arondel V (2006) Assaying lipase activity from oil palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) mesocarp. Plant Physiol Biochem 44:611–617

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Simons JW, Egmond MR, Gotz F, Verheij HM (1998) Biochemical properties of staphylococcal (phospho)lipases. Chem Phys Lipids 93:27–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Thirstrup K, Verger R, Carrière F (1994) Evidence for a pancreatic lipase subfamily with new kinetic properties. Biochemistry 33:2748–2756

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Palocci C, Soro S, Cernia E, Fiorillo F, Belsito CMA, Monacelli B, Delle Monache G, Pasqua G (2003) Lipolytic isoenzymes from Euphorbia latex. Plant Sci 165:577–582

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Skadapipanich JT (2007) Structural characterization of natural rubber based on recent evidence from selective enzymatic treatments. J Biosci Bioeng 103:287–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Boel E, Huge-Jensen B (1998) Recombinant Humicola lipase and process for production of recombinant (Humicola lipase). In: European Patent Applied E P 030521600216

  31. Selen Isbilir S, Ozcan HM, Yagar H (2008) Some biochemical properties of lipase from Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) seeds. J Am Oil Chem Soc 85:227–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Caro Y, Villeneuve P, Pina M, Reynes M, Graille J (2000) Lipase activity and fatty acid typoselectivities and plant extracts in hydrolysis and interesterification. J Am Oil Chem Soc 77:349–354

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Tiss A, Carrière F, Verger R (2000) Effects of gum Arabic on lipase interfacial binding and activity. Anal Biochem 294:36–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Aloulou A, Puccinelli D, De Caro A, Leblond Y, Carrière F (2007) A comparative study on two fungal lipases from Thermomyces lanuginosus and Yarrowia lipolytica shows the combined effects of detergents and pH on lipase adsorption and activity. Biochim Biophys Acta 1771:1446–1456

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Chahinian H, Snabe T, Attias C, Fojan P, Petersen SB, Carrière F (2006) How gastric lipase, an interfacial enzyme with a Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad, acts optimally at acidic pH. Biochemistry 45:993–1001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Dhouib R, Laroche-Traineau J, Shaha R, Lapaillerie D, Solier E, Rualès J, Pina M, Villeneuve P, Carrière F, Bonneu M, Arondel V (2011) Identification of a putative triacylglycerol lipase from papaya latex by functional proteomics. FEBS J. 278:97–110

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr. Peter Van Cauwenberghe, the Managing Director of Biohainaut for his continuous support. English revision by Dr Jessica Blanc is acknowledged. This study was performed in the framework of the European EUREKA LIPLANT E!3818 Project (2007–2009) with the financial support of Agence Nationale de Recherche (ANR) in France and the “Direction Générale des Technologies, de la Recherche et de l’Energie (DGTRE) de la Région Wallonne” in Belgium.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNRS - Aix-Marseille Université, Enzymologie Interfaciale et Physiologie de la Lipolyse UPR9025, Marseille, France

    Slim Abdelkafi, Imen Fendri & Frédéric Carrière

  2. Ingénierie des Agro-polymères et Technologies Emergentes, CIRAD - UMR IATE, Montpellier, France

    Nathalie Barouh, Michel Pina & Pierre Villeneuve

  3. Biohainaut, Z A E de Ghislenghien, Ghislenghien, Belgium

    Benjamin Fouquet & Frantz Scheirlinckx

Authors
  1. Slim Abdelkafi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nathalie Barouh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Benjamin Fouquet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Imen Fendri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Michel Pina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Frantz Scheirlinckx
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Pierre Villeneuve
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Frédéric Carrière
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frédéric Carrière.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abdelkafi, S., Barouh, N., Fouquet, B. et al. Carica papaya Lipase: A Naturally Immobilized Enzyme with Interesting Biochemical Properties. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 66, 34–40 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-010-0206-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-010-0206-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation