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Extending the computational and experimental analysis of lipase active site selectivity

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Abstract

Molecular docking is an important computational analysis widely used to predict the interaction of enzymes with several starting materials for developing new valuable products from several starting materials, including oils and fats. In the present study, molecular docking was used as an efficient in silico screening tool to select biocatalysts with the highest catalytic performance in butyl esters production in a solvent-free system, an eco-friendly approach, via direct esterification of free fatty acids from Licuri oil with butanol. For such purpose, three commercial lipase preparations were used to perform molecular docking studies such as Burkholderia cepacia (BCL), Porcine pancreatic (PPL), and Candida rugosa (CRL). Concurrently, the results obtained in BCL and CRL are the most efficient in the esterification process due to their higher preference for catalyzing the esterification of lauric acid, the main fatty acid found in the licuri oil composition. Meanwhile, PPL was the least efficient because it preferentially interacts with minor fatty acids. Molecular docking with the experimental results indicated the better performance in the synthesis of esters was BCL. In conclusion, experimental results analysis shows higher enzymatic productivity in esterification reactions of 1294.83 μmol/h.mg, while the CRL and PPL demonstrated the lowest performance (189.87 μmol / h.mg and 23.96 μmol / h.mg, respectively). Thus, molecular docking and experimental results indicate that BCL is a more efficient lipase to produce fatty acids and esters from licuri oil with a high content of lauric acid. In addition, this study also demonstrates the application of molecular docking as an important tool for lipase screening to achieve more sustainable production of butyl esters with a view synthesis of biolubricants.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financed in part by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior [CAPES]—Finance Code 001; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [CNPq]; Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa e à Inovação Tecnológica do Estado de Sergipe [FAPITEC/SE], and CIEPQPF is supported by the FCT through the projects UIDB/EQU/00102/2020 and UIDP/EQU/00102/2020.

Funding

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [CNPq]; Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa e à Inovação Tecnológica do Estado de Sergipe [FAPITEC/SE], and CIEPQPF is supported by the FCT through the projects UIDB/EQU/00102/2020 and UIDP/EQU/00102/2020. The research received financial support from the research fund provided by the Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa e à Inovação Tecnológica do Estado de Sergipe. This foundation is pivotal in supporting and promoting research and technological innovation activities within Sergipe, Brazil.

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  1. Universidade Tiradentes, Av. Murilo Dantas 300, Farolândia, Aracaju, SE, 49032-490, Brazil

    César A. Rodrigues, Jefferson C. B. Santos, Milson S. Barbosa, Milena C. Lisboa, Ranyere L. Souza & Cleide M. F. Soares

  2. Instituto de Tecnologia E Pesquisa, Av. Murilo Dantas 300, Prédio Do ITP, Farolândia, Aracaju, SE, 49032-490, Brazil

    Ranyere L. Souza & Cleide M. F. Soares

  3. Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, MG – CEP: 37130-001, Brazil

    Adriano A. Mendes

  4. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, Pólo II – Pinal de Marrocos, 3030-760, Coimbra, Portugal

    Matheus M. Pereira

  5. Departamento de Engenharia Química, UFBA, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Aristides Novis 2, Federação, Salvador, BA, Brazil

    Álvaro S. Lima

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Rodrigues, C.A., Santos, J.C.B., Barbosa, M.S. et al. Extending the computational and experimental analysis of lipase active site selectivity. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 47, 313–323 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-023-02956-4

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