What substrate was used in this simulation?

What substrate was used in this simulation?

• A. Fatty acids
• B. Glycerol
• C. Vegetable oil
• D. Bile

Answer: (C)

The key idea is what lipase acts on in a fat digestion setup. The substrate for this kind of simulation is a triglyceride, and vegetable oil provides a simple, triglyceride-rich fat source for the experiment. Lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids, so those two compounds are products of the reaction, not the starting substrate. Bile isn’t a substrate for the enzyme; it’s an emulsifier that helps fats mix with water, but it isn’t the molecule being digested. Fatty acids and glycerol would appear as products, not the substrate, which is why vegetable oil is the best choice here.

The key idea is what lipase acts on in a fat digestion setup. The substrate for this kind of simulation is a triglyceride, and vegetable oil provides a simple, triglyceride-rich fat source for the experiment. Lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids, so those two compounds are products of the reaction, not the starting substrate. Bile isn’t a substrate for the enzyme; it’s an emulsifier that helps fats mix with water, but it isn’t the molecule being digested. Fatty acids and glycerol would appear as products, not the substrate, which is why vegetable oil is the best choice here.