Horse pancreatic lipase. Interaction with colipase from various species.

Horse pancreatic lipase has been purified from tissue homogenates. Molecular and catalytic properties of horse lipase are comparable to those of the pancreatic lipases previously isolated. Kinetic studies of the inhibition of horse lipase activity by bile salts and of reactivation by pure colipase from three species (horse, ox and pig) allowed to calculate the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of the lipase-colipase complex in the presence of the substrate (triolein). Identical values of Kd were found in all three cases (Kd = 1.1 10(-9) M). These values are lower by several orders of magnitude than that published for the binding between lipase and colipase in the absence of substrate. Qualitative experiments show that the activation of horse lipase can be accomplished by rat, dog and chicken colipase as well. The interaction between lipase and colipase is enhanced when the complex is adsorbed at the lipid-water interface. This specific protein-protein interaction is preserved in heterologous mixtures using colipases from other animal species.