Expert: Shweta Mishra - 6/16/2009

Question
lipase is a digestive enzyme that digests fat droplets in the basic conditions (NaHCO3 is present) of the small intestine.Indicate which of the following test tubes would show digestion following incubation at 37 degrees and why the others would not.
tube1 water,fat droplets
tube2 water,fat droplets,lipase
tube3 water,fat droplets,lipase,NaHCo3
tube4 water,lipase,NaHCO3
Thank you for your help.

Answer
tube 1 = no digestion because no lipase enzyme present
tube 2 = no digestion because no basic environment present
tube 3 = Will show digestion because all the required conditions are present
tube 4 = no digestion because no substrate i.e. FAT present