Which substrate is hydrolyzed by the enzyme lipase?

Lipase is an enzyme specifically designed to hydrolyze triglycerides, which are a type of fat or lipid. This enzymatic activity involves breaking down triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids, making lipase crucial for the digestion and metabolism of dietary fats. In the gastrointestinal tract, lipase acts predominantly in the presence of bile salts and is secreted by the pancreas as well as by other tissues, facilitating the absorption of fats in the intestines.

The other substrates listed, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids, are targets of different enzymes. Proteins are hydrolyzed by proteases, carbohydrates by amylases, and nucleic acids by nucleases. Each of these enzymes operates on their respective substrates, evidencing the specificity of enzyme activity based on the structure of the substrates they act upon. Thus, the choice highlighting triglycerides aligns perfectly with the known function of lipase in biochemical processes.