Final answer:
Amylase is an enzyme that aids in carbohydrate digestion but is not a brush border enzyme; it is secreted by the pancreas while brush border enzymes like sucrase are embedded in the microvilli of the small intestine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The brush border enzymes are located on the microvilli that line the intestine and are involved in the process of digestion. These enzymes include various peptidases, which digest proteins, disaccharidases, such as sucrase and lactase, which digest sugars, and others that aid in the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
While amylase is an enzyme involved in carbohydrate digestion, it is not considered a brush border enzyme because it is secreted by the pancreas and not located on the microvilli of the small intestine. Amylase continues the chemical digestion of carbohydrates that began in the mouth with salivary amylase. The main function of pancreatic amylase is to further break down carbohydrates into simple sugars which can then be absorbed in the small intestine. Brush border enzymes, such as sucrase, perform the final steps in carbohydrate digestion directly within the small intestinal wall, breaking down disaccharides like sucrose into monosaccharides such as glucose and fructose.