lipaasien
Lipaasien is the Finnish term for lipases, a family of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of lipids, notably triglycerides, into smaller molecules such as free fatty acids and monoacylglycerols. They are essential for fat digestion and broader lipid metabolism. Lipases are serine hydrolases that typically use a catalytic triad of serine, histidine, and aspartate. In many contexts they require a nonenzymatic cofactor, colipase, to function effectively in the presence of bile salts and emulsified fats. Lipases often act at the lipid–water interface and exhibit interfacial activation, increasing activity when fats form emulsions.
In humans, several lipases perform distinct physiological roles. Pancreatic lipase digests dietary triglycerides in the small
Clinical relevance includes the use of serum lipase measurements as a diagnostic marker for acute pancreatitis,