Enzymatic hydrolysis at an oil/water interface

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Abstract
Triglycerides are metabolized by most of the organs and tissues of the body. However, the conditions in the lumen of the intestinal tract are unique, for it is only here that triglycerides are metabolized in the free state. Elsewhere these lipids are associated with water‐soluble materials. Since the substrate is water‐insoluble and the enzyme is water‐soluble, lipase, which brings about the hydrolysis of triglycerides in the intestinal tract, has the special property of being capable of functioning efficiently at an oil/water interface. Any material that can alter the nature of this oil/water interface can markedly influence the digestion of triglycerides.Because of the unusual conditions under which the hydrolysis of triglycerides occurs, the usual methods of studying enzyme kinetics are not applicable. Besides the enzyme‐substrate reaction itself, one must consider also such matters as diffusion of the substrate to the oil/water interface, removal of the products of hydrolysis from the oily/water interface, and the subsequent diffusion of these into the bulk phase. All of these steps can be influenced by such variables as efficiency of agitation, electrolyte concentration, and the presence of surface‐active agents, such as monoglycerides, soaps, and the bile salts.