Pancreatic lipase

Pancreatic lipase‏‎, also known as pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase or steapsin, is a enzyme that plays a crucial role in the digestive system. It is secreted by the pancreas and is responsible for the hydrolysis of dietary fat into fatty acids and glycerol.

Function

Pancreatic lipase 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. Bile salts secreted from the liver and stored in the 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.

Structure

The protein is a single polypeptide chain that contains a 449 amino acids preproprotein. The gene encoding pancreatic lipase is approximately 10 kb long and is located on chromosome 10.

Clinical significance

In conditions where the production or release of pancreatic lipase is impaired, fat digestion may be severely affected, leading to malabsorption and weight loss. This can occur in conditions such as pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and cancer of the pancreas. A test for the presence of pancreatic lipase in the blood can be used to diagnose these conditions.

See also

• Lipase
• Digestive enzyme
• Pancreas