title: Application of enzymes to the synthesis of surfactants.
abstract: Recent progress in the application of isolated enzymes to the preparation of surface-active compounds demonstrates the feasibility of an alternative to organosynthetic methods. Processes such as the syntheses of monoglycerides, sugar fatty acid esters, (lyso)phospholipids, anomerically pure alkyl glycosides and amino acid-based surfactants are discussed, highlighting some of the advantages of enzymatic methods over conventional organic syntheses and whole-cell systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Enzymology, BBSRC Institute of Food Research, Reading, Berks, UK.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Sarney
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Vulfson
mesh_terms: D004798:Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes; D013501:Surface-Active Agents