Multiple Choice
Amylase is an enzyme that primarily breaks down which macromolecule into smaller sugars?
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6. Enzymes and Enzyme Kinetics
Enzymes
Multiple Choice
In human saliva, which enzyme initiates the digestion of starch (amylose) by hydrolyzing glycosidic bonds?
A
Pancreatic lipase
B
Trypsin
C
Pepsin
D
Salivary amylase (ptyalin)
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the substrate involved in the digestion process, which in this case is starch (amylose). Starch is a polysaccharide composed of glucose units linked primarily by α-1,4-glycosidic bonds.
Understand that the digestion of starch begins in the mouth, where an enzyme acts to hydrolyze these α-1,4-glycosidic bonds, breaking down starch into smaller polysaccharides or maltose.
Recall the enzymes listed and their primary functions: Pancreatic lipase breaks down lipids, Trypsin digests proteins in the small intestine, and Pepsin digests proteins in the stomach.
Recognize that the enzyme responsible for initiating starch digestion in saliva is salivary amylase (also known as ptyalin), which specifically hydrolyzes α-1,4-glycosidic bonds in starch.
Conclude that salivary amylase is the enzyme that starts starch digestion in the mouth by breaking down amylose into smaller sugar units.
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