Characterisation of esterases of Streptococcus thermophilus ST1 and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris B1079 as alcohol acyltransferases

Evidence was obtained that esterases purified from Streptococcus thermophilus ST1 and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris B1079 are able to catalyse the synthesis of an ester (ethyl butanoate) in an aqueous environment via a transferase reaction (alcoholysis) in which fatty acyl (butyryl) groups from the glyceride (tributyrin) are transferred to the alcohol (ethanol). The esterases displayed transferase activity in which the acyl acceptor may be...