Question: Which enzymes help in digestion?
ANSWER: There are several enzymes play important roles in the process of digestion.
- Amylase: This enzyme is involved in the digestion of carbohydrates.
- Amylase is produced in the salivary glands (salivary amylase) and the pancreas (pancreatic amylase).
- Proteases: Proteases are a group of enzymes that break down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids.
- Examples include
- pepsin
- trypsin
- chymotrypsin
- peptidases
- Lipases: Lipases are enzymes responsible for the digestion of fats (lipids). They break down triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol.
- Nucleases: Nucleases are enzymes that break down nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) into nucleotides.
- They are produced in the pancreas and small intestine, assisting in the digestion of dietary nucleic acids.
- Lactase: Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products, into glucose and galactose.
- It is produced in the small intestine and is necessary for individuals to digest lactose properly.
| Enzyme | Description | Substrate | Function |
| Amylase | Breaks down carbohydrates into smaller sugar molecules | Starch, glycogen | Digestion of complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars (maltose, glucose) |
| Proteases | Break down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids | Proteins | Protein digestion, breaking peptide bonds to release individual amino acids |
| Lipases | Digests fats (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol | Triglycerides | Hydrolysis of triglycerides to release fatty acids and glycerol |
| Nucleases | Breaks down nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) | DNA, RNA | Digestion of dietary nucleic acids, hydrolyzing them into nucleotides |
| Maltase | Digests maltose (disaccharide) | Maltose | Hydrolysis of maltose into two glucose molecules |
| Lactase | Digests lactose (milk sugar) | Lactose | Breakdown of lactose into glucose and galactose |
| Sucrase | Digests sucrose (table sugar) | Sucrose | Cleavage of sucrose into glucose and fructose |
| Peptidases | Further breaks down peptides into amino acids | Peptides | Complete digestion of proteins by breaking down peptides into individual amino acids |
| Trypsin | Breaks peptide bonds on the carboxyl side of specific amino acids | Peptides | Protein digestion, cleaving peptides into smaller fragments |
| Chymotrypsin | Breaks peptide bonds on the carboxyl side of hydrophobic amino acids | Peptides | Protein digestion, cleaving peptides into smaller fragments |
| Pancreatic amylase | Digests carbohydrates, similar to salivary amylase | Starch, glycogen | Further digestion of carbohydrates into simpler sugars in the small intestine |
Important Questions about Enzymes
- Enzymes MCQs
- Inhibition in enzymes
- Which enzyme digests starch?
- Which enzyme digests protein?
- which enzyme is present in saliva?
- Which enzyme is not present in succus entericus?
- Which enzyme breaks down protein in the stomach?
- Which enzyme converts fibrinogen to fibrin?
- Which enzyme converts glucose into alcohol?
- Which enzyme digests fat?
- Which enzyme digests milk protein?
- Which enzyme is used in PCR?
- Which enzyme unzips the DNA double helix?
- Which liver enzyme increases with alcohol?
- Which enzyme cuts DNA?
- Which enzyme catalyzes the first step of glycolysis?
- Which enzyme binds DNA fragments together?
- Which enzyme transcribes DNA into RNA?
- which enzyme adds new nucleotides?
- Which enzyme digests cellulose?
- Which enzyme separates the two strands of DNA?
- Which enzyme converts carbohydrates into glucose?
- Which enzyme removes RNA primer?
- Which enzymes help in digestion?
- Which enzyme works best in acidic conditions?
- Which enzyme synthesizes tRNA?
- Which enzyme secreted by pancreas?
- Which enzyme converts maltose into glucose?
- Which vitamins work as coenzyme?