Triolein-phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol emulsions as substrates for lipoprotein and hepatic lipases

Lipolysis of emulsified glycerol tri[9,10-3H]oleate by lipoprotein lipase purified from bovine milk (E.C.3.1.1.34) and by hepatic lipase purified from rat liver perfusate was studied as a function of the phosphatidylcholine molecular species and the cholesterol content of the emulsions. Overall, the activities of the two enzymes were similar on a molar basis. Lipoprotein lipase initial lipolysis rates also were comparable for emulsions made with egg phosphatidylcholine or with saturated (dimyristoyl, dipalmitoyl and distearoyl) phosphatidylcholines when cholesterol was low. Increasing the cholesterol content of the emulsion from 2-3 mole percent to 7-14 mole percent reduced triolein lipolysis by lipoprotein lipase in emulsions made with saturated phosphatidylcholines. Rat hepatic lipase was more sensitive to increased cholesterol in emulsions made with saturated phosphatidylcholines than was lipoprotein lipase. The ability to maintain triolein lipolysis during longer incubations differed strikingly among the emulsions and for the two enzymes. Lymph chylomicrons were better substrates for both enzymes than any of the emulsions.