Gastrointestinal lipase

Gastrointestinal lipase encompasses several types of lipase enzymes that function in the digestive tract to break down dietary fats. The main types include lingual lipase (secreted in saliva), gastric lipase (secreted by gastric chief cells in the stomach), and pancreatic lipase (secreted by the pancreas into the small intestine). These enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of triglycerides into free fatty acids and glycerol, enabling fat digestion and absorption. Gastric lipase works optimally at acidic pH (3-6) and doesn't require bile acids or colipase for activity, while pancreatic lipase is the most important lipolytic enzyme, responsible for hydrolyzing most dietary fats. Pancreatic lipase has a catalytic triad consisting of serine, aspartic acid, and histidine residues that form the active site for substrate hydrolysis. In adults, acidic lipases (gastric and lingual) contribute about 30% of total lipid hydrolysis, while in infants they provide up to 50% of lipolytic activity due to underdeveloped pancreatic function. Deficiencies in these enzymes can lead to malnutrition and digestive disorders, particularly in conditions like cystic fibrosis where pancreatic enzyme secretion is impaired.

Other names

Digestive lipaseFat-digesting enzymeLipolytic enzyme

Hydrolysis of ester bonds in triglycerides to produce free fatty acids and glycerol