Home > Glossary > J K LA water soluble enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of ester bonds in water. That is, insoluble lipid substrates. Lipases therefore play roles in digestion, transport and the processing of dietary lipids in most if not all living organisms. A myriad of diverse lipases exist in nature. One example is the human pancreatic lipase HPL, which is the main enzyme responsible for breaking down fats in the human digestive system. It acts to convert triglyceride substrates found in oils from food to mono-glycerides and free fatty acids. Another example are the pancreatic lipases, which are secreted into extracellular spaces where they serve to process dietary lipids into more simple forms that can be easily absorbed and transported through the body. Lipases from fungi and bacteria serve important roles in human practises such as yoghurt and cheese fermentation. Some are also being exploited as versatile and inexpensive catalysts to degrade lipids in modern applications which include such processes as converting vegetable oil into fuel. |
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