Triglyceride Lipase Assays Based on a Novel Fluorogenic Alkyldiacyl Glycerol Substrate

Lipases are responsible for extracellular degradation and intracellular metabolism of lipids in animals, plants, and microorganisms. The conformational motif of all lipases whose three-dimensional structure has been determined is characterized by an α/β hydrolase fold (1 ). Most lipases utilize the catalytic triad Ser-His-Asp, with the serine residue acting as the nucleophile in the initial step of carboxyl ester hydrolysis; this active site serine is contained within the Gly-Xaa-Ser-Xaa-Gly consensus sequence common to most lipases (1 ,2 ).