The enzyme is cholesterol esterase. This enzyme is found in
the pancreatic juice and is usually secreted by the exocrine pancreas. Cholesterol
esterase digests cholesterol esters in the lumen of the small intestine into
free fatty acids and cholesterol. In the small intestine, bile salts such as
cholate and its conjugate is required to stabilized this enzyme in its
polymeric form and protect it from proteolytic hydrolysis.
