Active Site Studies to Explain Kinetics of Lipases in Organic Solvents Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

This study investigates the intricate dynamics underlying lipase performance in organic solvents using comprehensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, supported by enzyme kinetics data. The study reveals that a single criterion can neither predict nor explain lipase activity in organic solvents, indicating the need for a comprehensive approach. Three lipases were included in this study: Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB), Rhizomucor miehei lipase (RML), and Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL). The lipases were investigated in acetonitrile, methyl tert-butyl ether, and hexane with increasing water activity. Computational investigations reveal that CALB’s activity is negatively correlated to water cluster formations on its surface. In contrast, TLL’s and RML’s activity profiles show no negative effects of high water activity. However, TLL’s and RML’s activities are highly correlated to the conformation and stability of their active site regions. This study may pave the way for tailored applications of lipases, highlighting some of the factors that should be considered when lipase-catalyzed reactions are designed.