Hydrolysis of glycerides by lipases of the fat body of the locust, Locusta migratoria

Abstract

Lipolysis of mono- di- and triacylglycerol by locust fat body preparation was studied. Microsomes and the soluble supernatant contained an acid lipase (pH optimum 5.0–6.0) which hydrolized micellar dispersions of the above lipids. On short incubations, diacylglycerol yielded equimolar amounts of monoacylglycerol and fatty acids. Trioleylglycerol was degraded very slowly; mainly fatty acids were formed. The enzyme was inhibited by detergents, and various salts. Monoacylglycerol was hydrolyzed by the supernatant over a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. In the microsomes the activity continued to increase up to pH 9.0. These activities were not inhibited by Triton X-100. Moreover, at pH 7.8 in the presence of Triton, di- and triacylglycerol were also degraded.