Feasibility of Lipase Synthesis of Glycolipids (GLs)

GLs are a class of biosurfactants that contain a hydrophilic head attached to a hydrophobic tail. Although the biological properties of GLs have not been fully evaluated, the study of surface GLs has great potential for antiviral and HIV treatment. Currently, natural fermentation-produced GLs have limited applications, and interest in customized GLs is emerging. In addition to chemical synthesis and microbial fermentation synthesis, GLs can be synthesized enzymatically. The enzymatic method is the preferred method for customized GL synthesis.

The catalytic activity of lipases does not require cofactors and favors a broad substrate spectrum. Enzymatic reactions utilizing lipases are currently used for the industrial production of various compounds. Due to research limitations, the enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of GLs is mainly produced on a small scale in the laboratory, and microbial lipases are mainly used to catalyze GL synthesis.

Fig.1 Example of lipase-catalyzed reaction for GL production. (Grüninger, et al., 2019)

Our Services

CD BioGlyco strives to create a peer-to-peer GL synthesis R&D service from self-study, and process development to commercialization. We aim to facilitate our global partners to empower GLs more safely and efficiently.

• GL enzymatic synthesis service
  Traditional methods of GL synthesis are costly and time-consuming. We are committed to developing efficient methods for GL synthesis. Lipase is often used for acylation reactions. Its regioselectivity and enantioselectivity allow it to be used for the synthesis of various organic compounds such as GLs. We perform several GL synthesis experiments through reaction modeling to screen for optimal reaction substrates, solvents, temperatures, and lipases. We also develop a sustainable reaction system in an effort to reduce the cost of GL production. This method minimizes the use of harmful solvents and avoids polluting the environment. We also try to synthesize GLs from renewable resources. We study the decomposition of lignocellulose and others into sugar monomers, which are used as the head sugar fraction of GLs. We are also committed to finding renewable resources for the synthesis of tail fatty acids.

Fig.2 Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of GLs. (CD BioGlyco)

• Customized GL synthesis service
  CD BioGlyco has extensive experience in GL synthesis and offers custom glycolipid synthesis services. We can generate structurally different GLs through lipase-catalyzed reactions. Our products include psychosines, polyglycosyl ceramides, digalactosylceramide, diglycosyl ceramides, dipalmitin, and others. The quality of our products has passed all tests. Our products also include GLs fluorescently labeled in lipid and/or other compound functional groups.

Applications

• Based on the purpose of environmental protection, lipase synthesis technology has been utilized to produce various environmentally friendly biosurfactants.
• Lipase synthesis techniques have a role in GL structure and bioactivity correlation studies.
• Lipase synthesis technology allows for the specific synthesis of compounds, enabling researchers to conduct studies on GL applications in biomedicine.

Advantages

• Regioselectivity and enantioselectivity of lipases facilitate the synthesis of a wide range of structurally diverse GLs.
• We have optimized the lipase synthesis process including reaction substrates, solvents, and temperature. Specific GLs can be synthesized as required.
• We have optimized isolation and purification methods to obtain high-purity GLs.

CD BioGlyco is a life science R&D service provider and a trusted partner for novel GL development. We are fully capable of providing our customers with compliant GL synthesis services. In addition, we also provide β-Glucosidase Catalyzed Glycolipid Synthesis and Enzymatic Post-Treatment-based Glycolipid Manufacture Service. Please contact us for more details of our products.

• β-Glucosidase Catalyzed Glycolipid Synthesis