title: Techniques to measure lipase and esterase activity in vitro.
abstract: Lipases and esterases constitute a large category of enzymes. They are ubiquitous in nature, found in bacteria, fungi, and animals. The family members address a wide variety of structurally diverse substrates. Appropriately, a large number of assays have been developed to analyze their activity in vitro. Here, we present an overview of these enzymes, along with protocols for common assays performed in solution. An emphasis is placed on assays for enzymes that can hydrolyze triacylglycerols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, CIHR Group in Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, #328 HMRC, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada T6G 2S2.
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gilham
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lehner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001671:Biochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004950:Esterases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005977:Glutarates / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008049:Lipase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010078:Oxazines / Q000737:chemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005977:Glutarates; D010078:Oxazines; D014280:Triglycerides; C014180:resorufin; D004950:Esterases; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D008049:Lipase; C035736:glutaric acid