biochem of saliva Flashcards
what is saliva?
saliva is a clear liquid secreted by the salivary glands in the mouth
what is the function?
tasting and moistening of food
bolus formation
speech and swallowing facilitation
buffering ( it contains protein and phosphate buffers and bicarbonate )
digestion : amylase , lipase
Anti microbial ;lysozymes , peroxidase , histatins
inhibition of calcium deposition
protection of tooth decay
what is the composition of saliva?
water - 98%
electrolytes : high K
high HCO3
mucous : mucin ( glycoproteins )
what are the characteristics of saliva?
ph 6-8 –> optimum for amylase ( requires 5.6 - 7)
hypotonic
1-1.5 liter/day ( it gets recycled thats why dont feel the whole liter )
low Na and low CL ( cuz they get reabsorbed )
high K and high HCO3 ( cuz they get deposited )
describe the production of saliva?
initial saliva secretion is isotonic from the plasma
then the secretion moves down the ducts where the cells lining the ducts will modify the composition of secretion by reabsorbing Na and CL and secrete HCO3 and K to lesser extent than NaCL reabsorption
these ducts are impermeable to water so water stays within the lumen of the duct reducing the concentration of solute in the saliva
the final product is hypotonic because duct cells are impermeable to water
what does the tonicity of saliva depend on?
the time it takes the secretion to pass through the duct – ionic composition of the saliva change as the flow rate changes
at highest flow rates –> final saliva will be isotonic because the cells have less time to modify saliva
at high flow rates —> final saliva will be isotnic because cells have less time to modify saliva
at lowest flow rates —-> final saliva is mostly hypotonic because ductal cells have more time to modify saliva ( ions gets reabsorbed )
what regulates the ducts channels?
aldosterone
what is the enzyme content of saliva?
alpha amylase –> breaks starches into sugar
lingual lipase —> fat digestion
salivary peroxidase–> protects against harmful bacteria
lysozyme—> breaks down bacterial cell wall to fight infection
what is the protein content of the saliva?
statherins –> prevent tooth mineral loss or prevent precipitation of calcium phosphate in saliva
proline rich proteins ( PRPs) –> protect enamel and aid in digestion
histatins —> fight fungi and bacteria
cystatins —> inhibit harmful enzymes and protect tissues
what is the antibody content of saliva?
igA
immune function of the mucous membrane
what are examples of monosaccharides and how are they broken down?
glucose
fructose
Galactose
No need to breakdown , absorbed directly
Least complex one
what are examples of disaccharides and how they are absorbed?
maltose
surcose
lactose
2 monosacchardies linked
linked by glycosidic bonds and require specific enzymes to breakdown like maltase and sucrase and lactase
what are examples polysaccharides and how they are broken down?
starch
glycogen
cellulose
multiple monosaccharides connected together by glycosidic bonds
alpha bonds that are found in starch and glycogen are broken down by amylase
But Beta bonds that are found in cellulose cannot be broken down by human
how are glycosidic bonds formed?
condensation reaction between hydroxyl residue on carbon 1 and carbon 4 on two monosaccharides
what are the components of starch?
amylose
Amylopectin
what is the difference between them?
amylose –> linear and no branches
amylopectin —-> has branches at 1,6
whats starch broken into when digested by alpha amylase?
dextrin
maltoriose
maltose
what happens to alpha amylase when it reaches the stomach?
due to the acidic environment of the stomach the enzyme is broken down and is deactivated
but in small intestine it comes back in the form of pancreatic amylase and continue breaking down the starch
what type of enzymes is salivary amylase?
calcium metalloenzyme ( contains a metal ion )
what is the function of salivary amylase?
breaks alpha 1-4 glycosidic bonds of starch into maltose , maltotriose and dextrin
is salivary amylase endoglycosidase or exoglycosidase ?
it is endoglycosidase ( breaks down from the middle )
exoglycosidase will remove the sugar units from the end of sugar chains , one at a time
what happens to the starch digested by lingual amylase ?
when starch is digested in the mouth it produces a small amount of glucose that oral streptococci use this glucose to produce lactic acid
the lactic acid can erode the tooth enamel leading to dental caries
what secretes lingual lipase?
von ebners glans of the tongue
what is the function of lingual lipase?
involved in the first phase of fat digestion
important for digestion of milk fat in newborns
similar to pancreatic lipase - digests lipids