Prepare for the Microbial Metabolism Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with helpful hints and detailed explanations. Ace your test with ease!

Multiple Choice

What substrate does tributyrase hydrolyze?

Tributyrase is a lipolytic enzyme that targets tributyrin, a triglyceride made from glycerol and three butyric (butanoic) acid molecules. It hydrolyzes the ester bonds in tributyrin to produce glycerol and butyric acid. So the substrate it acts on is tributyrin. Glycerol and fatty acids, not tributyrin, are the products of this reaction, and gelatin would require a protease, not a lipase/tributyrase.

Tributyrase is a lipolytic enzyme that targets tributyrin, a triglyceride made from glycerol and three butyric (butanoic) acid molecules. It hydrolyzes the ester bonds in tributyrin to produce glycerol and butyric acid. So the substrate it acts on is tributyrin. Glycerol and fatty acids, not tributyrin, are the products of this reaction, and gelatin would require a protease, not a lipase/tributyrase.