Synthesis of Triglyceride of Conjugated Linoleic Acid(CLA) by Lipozyme

Most fatty acids in food matrices are triglyceride(TG) forms. Conjugated linoleic acid(CLA) produced from linoleic acid by microorganisms or chemicals is a free form. To apply the CLA to food systems, the TG containing CLA(designate CLA-TG) was synthesized by Lipozyme-catalyzed esterification method. An optimum reaction con-dition for the esterification of free CLA(FCLA) to glycerol by Lipozyme was determined as follows; Lipozyme(50mg) effectively catalyzed the esterification of CLA(500mg) to glycerol(1150mg) dissolved in isooctane (3ml) in a shaking incubator (200 rpm, 5$0^{\circ}C$) for 48 hr. Under the reaction condition, the resultant contained 52.4% CLA-TG as well as 31.1% Di-CLA-glycerol(CLA-DG), 7.6% mono-CLA-glycerol(CLA-MG), and 9.0% other CLA(un-reacted FCLA plus CLA dimer). These results suggest that the Lipozyme could be a useful enzyme for the production of CLA-TG to be employed in foods.