In this paper, lipase activity was characterized in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) seeds to determine its involvement
in lipid degradation during germination. The lipase activity, evaluated by a colorimetric method,
was already present before imbibition of seeds and was further induced during the germination process.
The activity showed a biphasic behaviour, which was similar in seeds either with or without endocarp
(parchment), even though the phenomenon showed a delay in the former. The enzymatic activity was
inhibited by tetrahydrolipstatin (THL), a selective and irreversible inhibitor of lipases, and by a polyclonal
antibody raised against purified alkaline lipase from castor bean.
The immunochemical analysis evidenced a protein of ca. 60 kDa, cross-reacting with an anti-lipase
antibody, in coffee samples obtained from seeds of both types. Gas chromatographic analyses of free
fatty acid (FFA) content confirmed the differences shown in the lipolytic activity of the samples with or
without parchment, since FFA levels increased more rapidly in samples without parchment. Finally, the
analyses of the antioxidant capacity showed that the presence of parchment was crucial for lowering the
oxidation of the lipophylic fraction, being the seeds with parchment less prone to oxidation processes