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Although unfolding of protein in the liquid state is relatively well studied, its mechanisms in the solid state, are much less understood. We evaluated the reversibility of thermal unfolding of lysozyme with respect to the water content using a combination of thermodynamic and structural techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry, synchrotron small and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS) and Raman spectroscopy. Analysis of the endothermic thermal transition obtained by DSC scans showed three distinct unfolding behaviors at different water contents. Using SWAXS and Raman spectroscopy, we investigated reversibility of the unfolding for each hydration regime for various structural levels including overall molecular shape, secondary structure, hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions. In the substantially dehydrated state below 37 wt% of water the unfolding is an irreversible process and can be described by a kinetic approach; above 60 wt% the process is reversible, and the thermodynamic equilibrium approach is applied. In the intermediate range of water contents between 37 wt% and 60 wt%, the system is phase separated and the thermal denaturation involves two processes: melting of protein crystals and unfolding of protein molecules. A phase diagram of thermal unfolding/denaturation in lysozyme - water system was constructed based on the experimental data.

Synthesis of partial glycerides in a solvent-free system has been investigated with various acyl donors and glycerol as substrates and a 1,3-specific immobilized lipase to catalyze the reaction. Capric acid was the most efficient acyl donor, compared with ethyl caprate and tricaprin. However, to obtain a high yield of dicaprin and a low amount of tricaprin, ethyl caprate was the acyl donor of choice. The composition of the product mixture was determined by the ratio of ethyl caprate to glycerol; a molar ratio of 3:1 was optimum for dicaprin synthesis. The water content in glycerol did not influence the final yield of dicaprin, but initial production of capric acid increased with increasing water content. The reaction was found to be controlled entirely by external mass transfer. The yield of diglyceride could be increased from 70 to 90% by lowering the reaction temperature, so that the diglyceride precipitated during the reaction.

Acyl migration in 2-monoolein dissolved in solvents under conditions common in lipid modification reactions has been studied. The effects on acyl migration of solvent, incubation temperature, water activity, polar additives and solid additives have been investigated. Extensive acyl migration occured in aliphatic hydrocarbons and water-miscible alcohols under dry conditions. The acyl migration rate could be decreased in several nonpolar solvents by adding a small amount of water or an alcohol. Increasing water activity had no effect in isooctane, but decreased the acyl migration rate dramatically in methyl tert-butyl ether and methyl isobutyl ketone. Several commonly used enzyme supports catalysed acyl migration, showing that supports with surface charges could catalyse acyl migration.