B2.5.2 Enzymes in Digestion Flashcards
Where are digestive enzymes produced?
By specialised cells in glands and the lining of the gut.
What is the general function of digestive enzymes?
They breakdown large molecules into smaller molecules.
Where is the enzyme amylase produced?
Salivary glands
Pancreas
Small intestine.
What does amylase do?
It catalyses the breakdown of starch into sugars in the mouth and small intestine.
Where is the enzyme protease produced?
In the stomach, the pancreas and the small intestine.
What does protease do?
It catalyses the breakdown of proteins into amino acids in the stomach and small intestine.
Where is the enzyme lipase produced?
In the pancreas and small intestine.
What does lipase do?
It catalyses the breakdown of lipids (fats and oils) into fatty acids and glycerol in the small intestine.
What conditions do the enzymes in the stomach work best in?
Acidic
Approximately what is the pH of the acid in the stomach?
pH 2
Where is ‘bile’ produced?
The liver
What does bile do?
It acts in the small intestine to neutralise the acid from the stomach and breaks up large fat droplets.
Do enzymes in the small intestine prefer alkaline or acid conditions?
Alkaline (this is why the bile is added to neutralise the acid, it also makes the solution slightly alkaline)
Name 3 processes where enzymes work inside cells.
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Protein synthesis
