Enzymatic preparation of L-α-glycerylphosphorylcholine in an aqueous medium

L‐α‐Glycerylphosphorylcholine (L‐α‐GPC) was successfully prepared from phosphatidylcholine (PC) of food‐grade soy lecithin powder using a novel enzymatic reaction in an aqueous medium. 94.5% yield of L‐α‐GPC was obtained under the optimal conditions of 55°C, 6.67 mg/mL substrate, 2 mM CaCl2, and 33.4 U/mL phospholipase A1 (Lecitase Ultra). L‐α‐GPC at 98% purity, 73.4% (wt%) recovery, and specific rotation ($[{\rm \alpha }]_{{\rm D}}^{{\rm 20}} $) of −2.5° was achieved by silica gel column chromatography. Owing to its excellent catalytic efficiency, low cost, and ready availability, phospholipase A1 (Lecitase Ultra) provides a very satisfactory option for converting PC to L‐α‐GPC. Practical applications: L‐α‐Glycerylphosphorylcholine (L‐α‐GPC) has been studied recently for its potential use as a supplement that may support neurological functions, but it is only found in trace amounts in nature. The present results indicate that Lecitase Ultra can be used for producing L‐α‐GPC from aqueous PC and suggest encouraging prospects for practical or industrial applications utilizing its notable catalytic performance, economy, and convenience. L‐α‐GPC was successfully prepared from PC using phospholipase A1 (Lecitase Ultra). The sn‐1 fatty acid of PCs is hydrolyzed by Lecitase Ultra; spontaneously acyl migration takes place with the fatty acids at the sn‐2 position moving to the sn‐1 position; sn‐1‐LPC are hydrolyzed to produce L‐α‐GPC. The structure of purified L‐α‐GPC was agreement with that of standard sample.