digestive enzymes Flashcards
what do enzymes catalyse?
chemical reactions
what is a catalyst
a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction yet remains unchanged
what are enzymes?
large protein molecules
what do enzymes have on their surface?
they have a groove on their surface called the active site
what is the active site
the active site is where the substrate attaches to
what is a substrate?
it’s the molecule that the enzyme breaks down
enzymes are specific, what does this mean for the substrate?
The substrate must fit perfect into the active site (the lock and key theory)
what is the lock and key theory?
the the substrate must fit onto the active site of an enzyme
what are the specific enzymes of the digestive system?
proteases- breaks down proteins
amylase-breaks down carbohydrates
lipase=digests lipid molecules
where are proteases found?
the stomach , the pancreatic fluid and the small intestine
what are amino acids?
the long chains of chemicals
what happens when we digest proteins?
the protease enzymes convert the protein back to the individual amino acids, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream.
where are amino acids absorbed?
in the bloodstream
what happens when amino acids are absorbed?
when they are absorbed by the body cells, they are joined together in a different order to make human proteins
what does starch consist of?
a chain of glucose molecules
