Analysis of lipase and esterase activities in Chlorella vulgaris, using canola oil as an inducer

Abstract

C.vulgaris is a widely studied microalga as it synthesizes a large number of high-value compounds; however, there are not enough reports on the production of extracellular enzyme such as lipases and esterases by this microalga using canola oil as an inducer. Therefore, the present work aims to evaluate lipase and esterase activity under different growth conditions (photoperiods, substrate, and canola oil as an inducer) through a screening design with 6 experimental runs and 8 response variables. It was possible to determine that the highest lipase activity expressed was obtained in Treatment 1 with a photoperiod of 16 h, 5.2 mM of NaNO3 as substrate, and 4 % of inducer, with a value of 0.97 U/mg of protein at hour 216, the highest esterase activity was obtained in the same treatment giving a value of 0.78 U/mg of protein at hour 216. In conclusion, and based on statistical analysis, it was found that for lipase activity, high substrate concentrations evaluated (5.2 mM) have a positive effect, while for esterase activity, the high inducer concentration (4 %), has a negative effect. This is why C.vulgaris is an appropriate biological model for the production of lipases at the biotechnological level.

Keywords

• Inducer
• Canola oil
• Lipase and esterease activities
• Protein
• Chlorella vulgaris