Question

The a-amylases are a group of enzymes that catalyze (or speed up) the breakdown of

starch into simple sugars. In humans, a-amylases are found in saliva and pancreatic
fluid. One of the genes that encodes for a-amylase is AMYIA.
a. Identify one example of a protein, one example of a carbohydrate, and one
example of a nucleic acid listed above.

Answer 1

The examples of a protein, a carbohydrate, and a nucleic acid from the question are α-amylase (enzyme), starch (polysaccharide), and AMY1A (gene encoding α-amylase), respectively. α-Amylase is essential for breaking down polysaccharides like starch into absorbable sugars in the human digestive system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The a-amylases are a group of enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of starch into simple sugars. In humans, these enzymes are found in saliva and pancreatic fluid. The gene that encodes for a-amylase is AMY1A. Here are the examples from the question:

• Protein: α-amylase (an enzyme that breaks down starch).
• Carbohydrate: Starch (a polysaccharide made up of glucose monomers).
• Nucleic Acid: AMY1A (the gene that encodes the α-amylase enzyme).

α-amylase facilitates the chemical digestion of polysaccharides like starch and glycogen, transforming them into shorter chains and eventually into monosaccharides like glucose and disaccharides such as maltose, which are absorbable by the small intestine.