Pancreatic Lipase
| Gene Ontology | |
|---|---|
| Molecular function | • triglyceride lipase activity • metal ion binding • retinyl-palmitate esterase activity |
| Cellular component | • extracellular region • extracellular space |
| Biological process | • retinoid metabolic process • lipid metabolic process • steroid metabolic process • post-embryonic development • lipid catabolic process • intestinal cholesterol absorption • response to lipid • response to peptide hormone stimulus • lipid digestion • small molecule metabolic process |
| Sources: Amigo / QuickGO | |
118.31 – 118.33 Mb
58.67 – 58.68 Mb
Pancreatic lipase, also known as pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase, is secreted from the pancreas, and is the primary lipase (enzyme) that hydrolyzes (breaks down) dietary fat molecules in the human digestive system, converting triglyceride substrates found in ingested oils to monoglycerides and free fatty acids.
- Triacylglycerol + 2 H2O 2-monoacylglycerol + 2 fatty acid anions
Bile salts secreted from the liver and stored in gallbladder are released into the duodenum where they coat and emulsify large fat droplets into smaller droplets, thus increasing the overall surface area of the fat, which allows the lipase to break apart the fat more effectively. The resulting monomers (2 free fatty acids and one 2-monoacylglycerol) are then moved by way of peristalsis along the small intestine to be absorbed into the lymphatic system by a specialized vessel called a lacteal. This protein belongs to pancreatic lipase family.
Unlike some pancreatic enzymes that are activated by proteolytic cleavage (e.g. trypsinogen), pancreatic lipase is secreted in its final form. However it only becomes efficient in the presence of colipase in the duodenum.
In humans, pancreatic lipase is encoded by the PNLIP gene.
Read more about Pancreatic Lipase: Diagnostic Importance