Lipase
Lipases are water-soluble enzymes. Their job is to catalyze the hydrolysis of ester bonds found in lipid substrates. A lipid is a fat. Therefore, lipase speeds up the hydrolysis of the esters found in fat molecules. This hydrolysis, therefore, allows for the breakdown of different fats in the body. Because of its role in catalyzing the hydrolysis process, lipase falls under the subclass of esterases. In other words, any hydrolase enzyme that forces an ester to split into an acid and an alcohol is known as an esterase. This specific one is lipase.
Functions of Lipase
In humans, we possess an enzyme known as human pancreatic lipase (HPL). The job of HPL is to break down fats in the digestive system. For example, if we consume a meal with triglycerides, we want that broken down so it can be processed easier. The HPL comes along and converts that triglyceride substrate into monoglycerides as well as fatty acids. Once the triglyceride has been broken down, the body can then process it and digest it with much more ease than if it were forced to process a triglyceride. Three glycerin attached makes for a very difficult break down. Breaking them apart into separate ones makes it much more manageable.
Human Lipase and Function
Bile Salt Dependent Lipase: Helps digest fats.
Pancreatic Lipase: To aid the HPL is optimal enzyme activity, the pancreas releases another protein known as a colipase. Pancreatic lipase is that colipase that helps the HPL function properly.
Hepatic Lipase: This is a lipase that acts on any remaining lips that are carried on lipoproteins. Therefore, it helps to regenerate LDL (low density lipoprotein).
Gastric Lipase: Found in infants at a near-neutral pH. Its job is to aid in the digestion of lips.
Industrial Uses
Because of its effective ability at breaking down fats, it has been used to degrade lipids in modern applications. An example is a biotechnology company that brought recombinant lipase enzymes for use in things such as baking, detergents and alternative energy. What they hope they can do is use lipase to convert vegetable oil into fuel. Because the lipase breaks down the oil into simple types of fat, they might be able to take that oil and use it for different applications as a fuel. However, science is still working on trying to make that a possibility.