80 THE ACTION OF ENZYMES 



being split up into glycerin and the corresponding free 

 fatty acid, thus : 



C 3 H 5 (C I7 H 35 C0 2 ) 3 + 3 H 2 = C 3 H 5 (OH) 3 + (C 17 H 36 CO 2 H) 3 



stearin water glycerin stearic acid 



(a fat) (a fatty acid) 



In many bacteria and fungi a lipase is present. 



