B1.1.3 Digestion of polymers into monomers by hydrolysis reactions Flashcards
What is the role of the enzyme sucrase in hydrolysis?
Sucrase facilitates the hydrolysis of sucrose, breaking the bond between glucose and fructose.
What is the role of hydrolysis in energy release?
ATP hydrolysis liberates energy for cellular processes.
What enzymes are involved in protein hydrolysis?
Pepsin and trypsin are enzymes that digest proteins by hydrolyzing peptide bonds.
How are polysaccharides hydrolyzed into monosaccharides?
Enzymes like amylase and maltase break glycosidic bonds, releasing glucose units.
What happens to nucleic acids during hydrolysis?
DNA and RNA are broken down by nucleases, resulting in nucleotide monomers.
What is the biological significance of hydrolysis?
Hydrolysis underpins catabolism and energy extraction in metabolism.
What is the difference between hydrolysis and condensation?
Hydrolysis adds water to break bonds, while condensation removes water to form bonds.
Give an example of hydrolysis in carbohydrate digestion.
Starch is hydrolyzed into maltose by amylase, and maltose is further hydrolyzed into glucose by maltase.
What is a common misconception about hydrolysis?
Many assume hydrolysis is instant, but it often requires enzymes to proceed efficiently.
Can hydrolysis occur outside of digestion?
Yes, hydrolysis is a fundamental reaction in many metabolic pathways, including energy release and cellular recycling.
Why is water essential for hydrolysis?
Water stabilizes newly formed monomers and prevents re-polymerization.
How does hydrolysis aid in detoxification?
The liver uses hydrolysis to break down toxic substances.
Why is hydrolysis important for nutrient absorption?
Hydrolysis breaks down large macromolecules into smaller monomers that the body can absorb.
What is the role of enzymes in hydrolysis?
Enzymes that catalyze hydrolysis reactions are highly specific and facilitate the process.
What happens to the $–H$ and $–OH$ fragments after hydrolysis?
They block the ends of the newly formed monomers, stabilizing them and preventing re-polymerization.
What happens to a water molecule during hydrolysis?
It splits into $–H$ and $–OH$, which attach to the exposed ends of the broken bond.
