2004 AIPMT BiomoleculesEnzymes Easy Question 3 of 5 in Enzymes

The enzyme which hydrolyses triglycerides to fatty acids and glycerol is called :-

A Lipase
B Zymase
C Pepsin
D Maltase

The answer is A.

Solution

Triglycerides (fats and oils) are esters of glycerol with three fatty acid molecules.
Lipase catalyses their hydrolysis: triglyceride $+ 3H_2O \xrightarrow{lipase}$ glycerol $+ 3$ fatty acids.
Zymase converts glucose into ethanol and $CO_2$; pepsin hydrolyses proteins into peptides; maltase hydrolyses maltose into glucose.
So the enzyme is lipase.

Concept Lipase action on fats

Enzymes in past papers

5 questions from this chapter have appeared across 5 exam years.