Lipase and Its Unique Selectivity: A Mini-Review

Figure 2

Examples of each type of fatty acid. Butyric acid is a minimum short-chain saturated fatty acid with four carbons (C₄), which can be hydrolyzed by lipases. Lauric acid is a medium-chain saturated fatty acid with twelve carbons (C₁₂), which is rich in coconut and palm kernel oil. Stearic acid is a long-chain saturated fatty acid with eighteen carbons (C₁₈), which is more abundant in animal fat. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid with eighteen carbons (C₁₈) and one cis double bond in C₉. Elaidic acid is a trans geometric isomer of oleic acid. Notably, elaidic acid has almost the same topology as stearic acid. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid with twenty carbons (C₂₀) and five cis double bonds in C₅, C₈, C₁₁, C₁₄, and C₁₇.