Lipase-Catalyzed Synthesis of Sn-2 Palmitate: A Review
Wei Wei, Cong Sun, Xiaosan Wang, Xiaosan Wang, Qingzhe Jin, Xuebing Xu, Casimir C. Akoh, Xingguo Wang, Xingguo Wang
Abstract
Human milk fat (HMF) is an important source of nutrients and energy for infants. Triacylglycerols (TAGs) account for about 98% of HMF and have a unique molecular structure. HMF is highly enriched in palmitic acid (PA) at the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone (more than 70%) and in unsaturated fatty acids at the sn-1,3 position. The specific TAG structure in HMF plays a valuable function in infant growth. Sn-2 palmitate (mainly 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl-glycerol) is one of the structured TAGs that is commonly supplemented into infant formula in order to enable it to present a similar structure to HMF. In this review, the development of the lipase-catalyzed synthesis of sn-2 palmitate over the last 25 years are summarized, with a focus on reaction schemes in a laboratory setting. Particular attention is also paid to the commercialized sn-1,3 regioselective lipases that are used in structured TAGs synthesis, to general methods of TAG analysis, and to successfully developed sn-2 palmitate products on the market. Prospects for the lipase-catalyzed synthesis of sn-2 palmitate are discussed.