Applications of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferases, an interesting class and potent enzymes with PLA activity

This chapter introduces the main industrial applications of lecitin:cholesterol acyltransferases by comparing them with type A and B phospholipases. Lecitin:cholesterol acyltransferases are hydrolytic enzymes belonging to the GDSL subfamily of serine esterases-lipases. They catalyze the transference of a fatty acid between a phospholipid and a hydroxyl group of sterol producing a lysophospholipid, molecules with high emulsifying properties, and an acylsterol. This capacity has proven to be beneficial in the food industry in comparison with other phospholipases such as type A and B phospholipases, hydrolases that produce a free fatty acid and a lysophospholipid from phospholipids. The main benefit of lecitin:cholesterol acyltransferases over phospholipases relies on the fact that they do not generate free fatty acids, molecules associated with less oxidative stability and off-flavors.