Master class on Lipases: From structure to applications in food and chemical industry

Short Advanced Course

6 - 7 April 2000
Wageningen, The Netherlands

Organised by the Graduate School VLAG, in cooperation with the Laboratory for Organic Chemistry, Wageningen University, The Netherlands


   Introduction   Course contents   Organisation   General information   Registration & course fee   

Introduction

Background
Performing chemical conversions under mild, and environmentally benign conditions is currently a topical issue. The ability of enzymes to efficiently catalyse reactions under mild conditions makes them of great interest to the food and chemical industry. Lipases are a group of enzymes already frequently used as catalysts. These enzymes are biologically significant for fat degradation but, as with other enzymes, their industrial applications are more diverse. However, to increase the industrial use of lipases it is necessary to fully understand the fundamental aspects of their function.

Target group
The course is aimed at PhD students/postdoctoral researchers working in the field of lipases and industrial scientists involved in their use. Additionally though, it is well suited to anyone who wants to gain an overview of lipase applications.

Course contents

Course aim
By focussing on fundamental subjects this short advanced course will provide a better understanding of the function and applications of lipases.

Course design
The course will be composed of lectures by keynote speakers. Aspects of lipases such as structure, kinetics, measurement of activity, immobilisation techniques, expression and industrial applications will be covered. Participants are requested to present a poster about their own work in the field of lipases. A limited number of participants will be selected to give a short presentation.

Provisional programme

Thursday 6 April
Introduction (Franssen)
What is a lipase? (Verger)
Measurement of lipase activity (Verger/Kierkels)
Kinetics/stereoselectivity (Jongejan)
Inmmobilisation of lipases (Fischer)
Poster presentations

Friday 7 April
Expression and purification (Egmond)
Application in dairy industry (Wouters)
Application in food industry (van der Padt)
Application in polymer industry (Kierkels)
Stereoselectivity and empirical rules (Franssen)
Lipases in bioreactors (van der Padt/Heinsman)

Programme

First day
9:30 - 10:00 Introduction (Franssen, Wageningen University)
Welcome to Wageningen. Introduction to Wageningen University and Research Centre, VLAG, and the course venue. Explanation of the programme, the logics of the sequence, and the activities. An introductory round of the participants: their affiliation, their activities, their interest in lipases, their expectations.
10:00 - 11:00 General introduction: What is a lipase? (Verger, [LLE-CNRS, Marseille])
Lipase structure and occurrence, mechanism of catalysis, interfacial activation.
11:00 - 11:15 Coffee break
11:15 - 12:00 Measurement of lipase activity (Verger and Kierkels [DSM, Geleen])
pH-stat & emulsions, on-line measurement using surface tension and light scattering.
12:00 - 12:45 Kinetics of resolution (Jongejan [Delft Technical University])
Enantiomeric ratio, different ways of E-value determination.
12:45 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 14:45 Modelling of stereoselectivity (Jongejan)
Method of modelling, enthalpy and entropy, docking.
14:45 - 15:30 Immobilization of lipases (Fischer [DTU, Lyngby, Denmark])
Different techniques, CLECs
15:30 - 16:00 Tea break
16:00 - 17:30 6 Oral presentations by participants
10 minutes of presentation and 5 minutes of discussion
17:30 - 17:50 Refreshments and snack
17:50 - 19:20 6 Oral presentations by participants
10 minutes of presentation and 5 minutes of discussion
 
Second day
9:00 - 9:45 Expression and purification (Egmond [Unilever,Vlaardingen, University Utrecht])
9:45 - 10:30 Applications of lipases in detergent industry (Egmond)
Washing efficiency, reduction of temperatures
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 - 11:45 Applications of lipases in dairy industry (Wouters [NIZO, Wageningen University])
Cheese making, improved cheese ripening and taste development, low fat products
11:45 - 12:30 Applications of lipases in food industry (van der Padt and Heinsman [Wageningen UR, Quest International])
Triglycerides, monoglycerides, fatty acids
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch
13:30 - 14:15 Stereoselectivity of lipases and empirical rules (Franssen)
Kinetic reasons for selectivity, examples of difference in stereo-selectivity, application of empirical rules to prediction of enzyme selectivity
14:15 - 15:00 Application of lipases in fine chemical industry (Kierkels)
Examples of lipases used as industrial catalyst in fine chemical industry.
15:00 - 15:30 Tea break
15:30 - 16:30 Lipases in bioreactors (van der Padt, Heinsman)
Membrane bioreactors, upscaling.
16:30 - 17:00 Application of lipases for the production of polymers (Kierkels)
Polyesters, ring-opening polymerisation of lactones.
17:00 - 17:30 Overview (Verger)
17:30 - 18:00 Evaluation (Franssen and Heinsman)
18:00 - 19:00 Refreshments
19:00 Dinner

Organisation

Course coordinators

Other faculty

General information

Date & duration
2 days, April 6 - 7, 2000

Study load
The study load of this course is ECTS credits.

Language
The course will be conducted in English.

Location & accommodation
Lectures will be given at Wageningen University. Accommodation is available at the Wageningen International Agricultural Centre (WICC) and/or Wageningen International Residence (WIR). The cost of bed/breakfast varies between NLG 86 (WICC) and NLG 145 per day (WIR).

Social programme
For foreign participants an excursion to the Kröller Müller Art Museum (15 kms. from Wageningen) will be organised on Saturday morning 8 April. This museum is famous for its Van Gogh art collection, yet also has works by Seurat, Rodin, Mondriaan as well as Europe's largest sculpture garden. The cost of this excursion is NLG 35.

Contact information
More information about the course contents can be obtained from Dr. Maurice Franssen; phone: +31-317-482976, e-mail: Maurice.Franssen@wur.nl
For organisational matters please contact Mrs. I. van Leeuwen-Bol: phone +.31.317-485108, e-mail: Ingeborg.vanLeeuwen-Bol@wur.nl

Registration & course fee

The course fee is NLG 1,250 (575 Euro; including lunches/tea/coffee and a course dinner). PhD-students not affiliated with the Graduate School VLAG will be charged NLG 400.

The registration form must be returned before March 15, 2000. You will be notified on acceptance of your registration and will be sent instructions for payment, and further information. Please use the 'Course Application Form' to apply.