Lipase is an enzyme that digests what?

Study for the Leaving Certificate Biology Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations to enhance learning. Get ready to excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

Lipase is an enzyme that digests what?

Explanation:
Enzymes are substrate-specific, so lipase is the enzyme that digests lipids. It catalyses the hydrolysis of triglycerides into glycerol and fatty acids, mainly in the small intestine (with pancreatic lipase) and aided by bile salts that emulsify fats to increase surface area. This focus on fats distinguishes it from other digestive enzymes: amylase digests carbohydrates, proteases digest proteins, and nucleases digest nucleic acids. So lipids are the substrate that lipase acts on.

Enzymes are substrate-specific, so lipase is the enzyme that digests lipids. It catalyses the hydrolysis of triglycerides into glycerol and fatty acids, mainly in the small intestine (with pancreatic lipase) and aided by bile salts that emulsify fats to increase surface area. This focus on fats distinguishes it from other digestive enzymes: amylase digests carbohydrates, proteases digest proteins, and nucleases digest nucleic acids. So lipids are the substrate that lipase acts on.

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