HYDROLYSIS OF FISH OIL BY MARINE BACTERIAL LIPASE

Attempts were made to find marine bacteria which were capable of hydrolyzing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing fish oils. Out of 45 strains of marine bacteria screened, 3, 6, and 13 strains from genera Alteromonas, Pseudomonas, and Vibrio, respectively, showed the hydrolytic activities of Tween 80 or tributyrin. One strain of genus Vibrio, tentatively named VB-5, showed a high activity of hydrolyzing fish oils. The lipase activity from the strain VB-5 was enhanced by adding olive oil into the medium. The olive oil-induced lipase from the strain VB-5 was capable of liberating eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids as free fatty acids along with palmitic and oleic acids from fish oils.