ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors describe the gene cloning, structures, and production mechanisms of microbial lipases and their production by recombinant microbes. The total RNA was extracted with 4 M guanidine thiocyanate solution from log-phase cells showing the maximum rate of specific lipase production. The primary structures of bacterial lipases were deduced from the nucleotide sequences of the cloned genes. Moreau et al. carried out the following chemical modification to investigate the role of serine in the common sequence: Ser-152 of porcine pancreatic lipase in the common sequence was specifically modified with diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate. Iizumi et al. attempted the lipase overproduction by a self-cloning system of KWI-56. Rhizomucor miehei lipase is synthesized as a precursor, with a signal sequence, a propeptide, and a mature enzyme. The analysis of the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence indicated that the precursor containing the propeptide was processed in and secreted from a recombinant A.
