3.3 Enzymes in Digestion Flashcards
What is digestion?
The breakdown of large insoluble molecules into smaller soluble molecules
How do enzymes come into contact with food?
The are passed out of the cells and reach the food in various places depending on the enzyme
Name a carbohydrase
Amylase
What type of food does amylase catalyse the digestion of?
Starch into sugars
Where is amylase produced?
The salivary glands, the pancreas and the small intestine
Where does most digestion via amylase occur?
In the mouth and some in the small intestine
What does protease catalyse the digestion of?
Proteins into amino acids
Where is protease made?
The stomach, the pancreas and the small intestine
Where does most digestion via protease occur?
The stomach and the small intestine
What does lipase catalyse the digestion of?
Lipids (fats and oils) into fatty acids and glycerol
Where is lipase made?
The pancreas and the small intestine
Where does digestion via lipase occur?
The small intestine
Where are digestive enzymes made?
Produced by specialised cells in glands in the digestive system and in the gut
Why do we do digestion?
So the small soluble molecules can be absorbed and used by cells
Where do most enzymes work?
Inside cells
Where do digestive enzymes work?
Outside of cells
What does the gut do?
It is a hollow muscular tube that squeezes your food and helps break it up into small pieces with a large surface area for your enzymes to work on and mixes with digestive juices so enzymes come into contact with as much food as possible
Where does the digestion of starch start?
Your mouth
Why is there no digestion in the pancreas?
The enzymes flow into your small intestine
Where do the digested soluble food molecules go after they leave the small intestine?
They are diffused into the blood supply where they are carried around the body and to the cells that need them
What are the best conditions for amylase?
37*C
What are the best conditions for protease?
In the stomach = acid
In the pancreas = alkaline
What are the best conditions for lipase?
37*C
What type of enzymes are used in digestion?
Catabolic (break down molecules)
