Amylase

Question 1

α-Amylases are

Answer 1

hydrolytic enzymes which break down starch into
maltose.

Question 2

In the human body, α-amylases originate from various organs:

Answer 2

1. pancreatic amylase is produced by the pancreas and released into the intestinal tract
2. salivary amylase is synthesized in the salivary glands and secreted into saliva.

Question 3

Amylases present in blood are

Answer 3

eliminated through the kidney and excreted into urine. Therefore, elevation of amylase activity in serum is reflected in a rise of urinary amylase activity.

Question 4

Method

Answer 4

Enzymatic photometric test, in which the substrate 4,6-ethylidene-(G7)-p-nitrophenyl-(G1)-α-D-maltoheptaoside (EPS-G7) is cleaved by α-Amylases into various fragments.

These are further hydrolyzed in a second step by α-Glucosidase producing glucose and p-nitrophenol. The increase in absorbance represents the total (pancreatic and salivary) amylase activity in the sample. [3,4]

Question 5

R1:

Answer 5

Good’s buffer
NaCl
MgCl2
α-Glucosidase

Question 6

R2:

Answer 6

Good’s buffer
EPS-G7

Question 7

Conversion Factor

Answer 7

0.0167 = α-Amylase [µkat/L]

Question 8

Interfering substance with serum/plasma

Answer 8

Ascorbic acid
Bilirubin (conjugated)
Bilirubin (unconjugated)
Hemoglobin
Lipemia

Question 9

Interfering substance with urine

Answer 9

Ascorbic acid
Bilirubin (conjugated)
Boric Acid
Glucose
Hemoglobin
Protein
Sodium-Oxalate
Urobilinogen

Question 10

Specimen

Answer 10

Human serum, heparin plasma or urine

Question 11

Wavelength

Answer 11

410/694 nm

Question 12

Reference Range

Answer 12

Serum/Plasma

Women: < 100 U/L
< 1.67 µkat/L

Men: < 100 U/L
< 1.67 µkat/L

Urine

Women: < 447 U/L
< 7.45 µkat/L

Men: < 491 U/L
< 8.18 µkat/L