Why is it difficult to detect lipase activity in tube 5?

Why is it difficult to detect lipase activity in tube 5?

• A. the substrate is missing
• B. the enzyme is missing
• C. the bile salts are missing
• D. the pH is already very low, so a decrease in pH might be difficult to detect

Answer: (D)

Lipase activity in this setup is read by a pH change caused by the fatty acids released when lipase breaks down triglycerides, with a pH indicator showing that shift. If the starting pH is already very low, the indicator is already in its acidic color and there isn’t much room for the pH to drop further. Therefore, additional acid production from lipase won’t produce a noticeable color change, making it hard to detect activity in that tube.

Lipase activity in this setup is read by a pH change caused by the fatty acids released when lipase breaks down triglycerides, with a pH indicator showing that shift. If the starting pH is already very low, the indicator is already in its acidic color and there isn’t much room for the pH to drop further. Therefore, additional acid production from lipase won’t produce a noticeable color change, making it hard to detect activity in that tube.