Properties of methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-lipase from Candida rugosa in organic solvents

Lipase from Candida rugosa was modified with methoxy(polyethylene glycol)–p-nitrophenyl carbonate (NPC–mPEG). A total of 34 out of 35 lysine chains were substituted, and the modified lipase retained 98% of the hydrolytic activity of the non-modified enzyme. mPEG-lipase is perfectly soluble in organic solvent and efficiently catalyzes the esterification of lauric acid, with nearly 100% of yield over 6 h in toluene. Moreover, mPEG-lipase exhibits a preference for the S-isomer over the R-isomer in the stereoselective resolution of racemic naproxen.