Hi everyone, does anyone know of any lipase enzymes found in nature that have the ability to degrade mycolic acid? Do normal lipases such as human pancreatic lipase (HPL) have the ability to degrade mycolic acid?
Most lipases act at a specific position on the glycerol backbone of a lipid substrate. For example, HPL often converts triglyceride substrates into monoglycerides and two fatty acids. I do not think lipases are able to degrade mycolic acids, which are long-chain fatty acids.
But, it is good to try screening of lipases from nature for degradation of mycolic acids. You can use mycolic acids as a sole substrate for enrichment of lipase producers from soil or other samples available in nature.