Assertion: Lipases of bile help in the emulsification of fats.
Reason: Lipases can break large fat droplets into smaller ones.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) If both Assertion and Reason are correct, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) If Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.
(d) If both the Assertion and Reason are incorrect.
(d) If both the Assertion and Reason are incorrect.
Explanation:
It is not lipases but the bile salts which are responsible for the emulsification of fats. Bile salts are steroids secreted by the liver in the bile. In the intestinal lumen, they reduce the surface tension of fat dropletes, causing their breakdown into many smaller ones. A stable fine emulsion of fat is thereby formed. On the other hand, lipases are the enzymes which hydrolyse fats and oils. Lipases can digest fat in significant amounts only when large fat droplets are broken into tiny droplets to form a fine emulsion. Emulsification of fats by bile salts thus, increases the lipases action on fats.