Front Matter

Foreword

Industrial-age society has been–or at least is being–transformed into an informa-

tion-age society. The plethora of information now available down to molecular

“genomic” levels still does continues to grow. With justification those working

in such areas feel part of a biosociety; and professional organizations have re-

sponded accordingly. For instance, in the 1970s our ownDeutsche Gesellschaft

fu ̈ r Fettwissenschaft(DGF) created aDivision of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

which for some time now has been co-chaired by Uwe Bornscheuer.

Uwe Bornscheuer is an authoritative colleague in the field of enzyme technology.

Together with Romas Kaslauskas he wrote a highly acclaimed book onHydrolases in

Organic Synthesispublished by WILEY-VCH. The present bookEnzymes in Lipid

Modificationis also a publication of WILEY-VCH, and I am pleased that this

renowned publishing house is becoming increasingly engaged in lipids, fats, and

oils. By launching the new monthlyEuropean Journal of Lipid Science and Tech-

nologyin January 2000, indeed, DGF and WILEY-VCH are already a successful

collaboration.

Scientific interest in enzymes acting on lipids has a long history. The first focus

was on lipases. Then phospholipases came to the fore, and lately lipoxygenases and

monooxygenases have garnered attention. I wish to thankUwe Bornscheuerfor

gathering acknowledged experts to write succinct chapters pertaining to this groups

of enzymes. Their informative and critical reviews discuss how to use and improve

properties of proteins such as reversibility, chirality, and stability in the synthesis of

products. The aim and scope of the book is thus truly biotechnological.

DGF happily cooperates in this endeavor!

Mu ̈nster, April 2000 Friedrich Spener

President of DGF