Enzymes and Digestion Flashcards
What are simple carbs made up of?
One or two sugar units
What are large complex carbs made up of?
Many smaller carbs joined together in a long chain
Give examples of simple and complex carbs
Simple: Glucose, sucrose
Complex: Starch, cellulose
What are lipids made up of?
Fatty acids and glycerol
How many molecules does a lipid contain of glycerol and fatty acids?
1 glycerol, 3 fatty acids
What are proteins made up of?
Long chains of amino acids
What is special about these long chains of amino acids?
They’re folded into specific shape -> allows molecules to fit in to the protein
What is the function of antibodies?
Fight disease, produced by WBC, part of immune system
What is the function of hormones?
Carry messages around body
What is the function of structural proteins?
Make up tissues in the body
What is the function of enzymes?
Control chemical reactions in the body, Are specific to allow certain molecules to fit into it.
Define catalyst
A substance which increases the speed of a reaction without being changed or used up
Why do living things produce enzymes?
To speed up useful reactions
What is a substrate?
A molecule which is changed in a reaction
Where place does the substrate join the enzyme (in the enzyme)
Active site
How many reactions does an enzyme usually catalyse?
1
What does changing a temperature in a mammal usually do?
Speeds up all reactions. Useful and un-useful ones
What does increasing the temperature do to an enzyme (all stages)
Increases initial rate, but when too hot, active site changes and the enzyme denatures
Why is it important that the pH in an enzyme is suitable for it?
Because if it isn’t, the active site will change and the enzyme will denature
Do all enzymes have the same optimum pH?
No
What do digestive enzymes do to molecules?
Break them down into smaller ones
Give examples of big and small molecules
Big: Starch, proteins, lipids
Small: Sugars, amino acids, glycerol, fatty acids
What is the difference between insoluble and soluble in terms of size?
Insoluble: Big
Soluble: Small
What molecules does amylase breakdown and where does it work and made?
Converts starch into sugars. Works in mouth and SI, made in SI, pancreas or salivary glands
What molecules does protease breakdown and where does it work and made?
Converts proteins into amino acids. Works in stomach and SI, made in stomach, pancreas or SI
What molecules does lipase breakdown and where does it work and made?
Converts lipids into glycerol and fatty acids. Works in SI, made in SI and pancreas
What is the role of bile and where is it produced and stored?
Neutralises stomach acid and emulsifies fats. Made liver and stored in gall bladder
Where is bile released into?
SI
Why does bile neutralise the stomach acid?
Too allow enzymes to work there as the conditions are too acidic
How does bile make the digestion of fats quicker?
Breaks them down into tiny droplets increasing the SA
What enzyme does the salivary glands produce?
Amylase
What does the liver produce to help with digestion?
Bile
What is the purpose of the gall bladder in relation to digestion?
Stores bile before it’s released into the SI
What is the purpose of the SI in relation to digestion and what enzymes does it produce?
Protease, lipase and amylase. Where food is absorbed into the blood
What is the purpose of the stomach in relation to digestion and what enzymes does it produce?
Pummels food, produces pepsin, protease and Hcl
Why does the stomach produce Hcl?
Kill bacteria, give pepsin the optimum pH to work in
What enzymes does the pancreas produce and where does it release them?
Amylase, protease, lipase, releases them into the duodenum
What is the purpose of the LI in relation to digestion?
Absorbs a lot of the water mixed in with the food
What is the purpose of the anus in relation to digestion?
Where you shit out all the faeces
What stains wash out easier, soluble or insoluble ones?
Soluble
What do non-biological detergents contain?
Chemicals
What do biological detergents contain?
Enzymes and same chemicals in non-biological detergents
What is the source of stain for proteins and lipids?
Proteins: Blood, grass
Lipids: Butter, oil
What are the enzymes called for proteins and lipids?
Protease and lipase
What is the product of proteins and lipids?
Amino acids, fatty acids + glycerol
What enzymes are used in baby food to pre-digest it and why?
Proteases. Makes food easier for the baby to digest
What enzymes turn starch syrup into sugar syrup?
Carbohydrases
What enzyme is used to turn glucose syrup into fructose syrup and why?
Isomerase -> get same sweetness level without adding too many calories
