Lipase (LIP)

A lipase is a water-soluble enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of ester chemical bonds in water-insoluble lipid substrates. Most lipases act at a specific position on the glycerol backbone of lipid substrate (A₁, A₂ or A₃). For example, human pancreatic lipase (HPL), which is the main enzyme that breaks down dietary fats in the human digestive system, converts triglyceride substrates found in ingested oils to monoglycerides and free fatty acids. Several other types of lipase activities exist in nature, such as phospholipase and sphingomyelinases, however these are usually treated separately from "conventional" lipases. Some lipases are expressed and secreted by patogenic organisms during the infection. In particular, Candida albicans has a large number of different lipases, possibly reflecting broad lipolytic activity, which may contribute to the persistence and virulence of C. albicans in human tissue.