CONTENTS 



Preface v 



I. Introduction 1 



II. The Digestion and Absorption of Fats in the Gastrointestinal Tract . 3 



1. Introduction 3 



2. Enzymes Concerned with the Digestion of Lipids 3 



(1 ) Lipases 5 



a. Gastric Lipase 5 



b. Pancreatic Lipase (Steapsin) 6 



(a) Activation of Pancreatic Lipase by Bile Salts 6 



(b) Activators and Inhibitors of Pancreatic Lipase 7 



(c) Synthetic Action of Pancreatic Lipase 9 



(d) Properties of Pancreatic Lipase 9 



(e) Specificity of Pancreatic Lipase 9 



c. Intestinal Lipase 10 



d. Serum Lipase . .-r 10 



e. Ricinus Lipase (Castor-Bean Lipase) 11 



f . Lipases in Molds and Bacteria 13 



(2) Esterases 14 



a. Origin of Esterases 14 



b. Distribution of Esterases 14 



(a) The Presence of Several Esterases in Liver and Pancreas. ... 15 



(b) Serum Esterase 15 



c. Properties of Esterases 16 



d. Factors Altering the Action of Esterases 17 



e. Preparation of Esterases 18 



f . Esterases vs. Lipases 19 



(3) Other Lipid-Hydrolyzing Enzymes 19 



a. Cholesterol Esterase 20 



(a) Hydrolytic Action of Cholesterol Esterases 20 



(b) Synthetic Action of Cholesterol Esterases 22 



b. Lecithinases 23 



(a) Lecithinase A 23 



(b) Lecithinase B 24 



(c) Lecithinase C 24 



(d) Lecithinase D 25 



c. Cholinesterases 26 



(a) Introduction 26 



(b) Discovery of Acetylcholine and Cholinesterases 26 



(c) Types of Cholinesterases 28 



(d) Properties of Cholinesterases 31 



a'. General Properties of Cholinesterases 31 



b '. Specificity of Cholinesterases 33 



c' Inhibition of Cholinesterases 34 



vii 



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