HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fryer, T. F. Articles by Lawrence, R. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Fryer, T. F. Articles by Lawrence, R. C.

Lipolytic Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria

Department of Bacteriology, National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading, England

R. C. Lawrence

New Zealand Dairy Research Institute, P.O. Box 1204, Palmerston North, New Zealand

ABSTRACT

We have recently developed a simple slide method which permits the rapid quantitative comparison of relative activities of lipase preparations against low molecular weight triglycerides and milk fat (3). By altering the concentration of substrate used, the sensitivity of the method could be varied, tributyrin giving equivalent results to milk fat or other substrates when used at suitable concentrations. Thus, hydrolysis of tributyrin is indicative of activity against milk fat. This was confirmed by comparing the relative lipolytic activities of growing colonies of Gram-positive, catalase-positive cocci, and Gram-negative rods on tributyrin (0.1–5%) and on milk fat, using a double-layer technique (2). It was found that every organism examined hydrolyzed tributyrin to some degree, the most strongly positive organisms showing the strongest reactions against milk fat, and vice versa. Thus, it appeared that lipase production was probably a basic property of all microorganisms, varying only in degree. This is also substantiated by the earlier observations of Wolf (6), Long and Hammer (4), and Petersen and Johnson (5), that lactic acid bacteria have some lipolytic activity.