Elementary plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology (2+1)

Phospholipase A

• Phospholipase A is present in large amounts in snake venom and human pancreas.
• It is also designated as phospholipase A1.
• It catalyses the hydrolysis of the fatty acids in the 2 or *-position of the phospholipids.
• Though this enzyme attacks on glycerophosphatides, it is fairly specific for phosphatidyl choline (lecithin).
• The enzyme is relatively stable to heat (below pH 7.0).
• The product of the hydrolysis, a lysolecithin, (monoacylphosphoryl choline) has a powerful hemolytic activity.