Question

What are digestive enzymes? Give three examples of digestive enzymes and briefly describe their specific functions.

Answer 1

Digestive enzymes are proteins that catalyze mainly hydrolysis reactions that make nutrients absorbable in the digestive tract. Pepsin is a gastric enzyme that turns proteins into albumoses and peptones which are shorter peptide chains that are then hydrolyzed to even shorter chains until amino acids by intestinal enzymes. Pancreatic amylase is an enzyme that turns starch(a polysaccharide) into maltose(a disaccharide). Lipase is present in the gastric juice, the pancreatic juice, and the intestinal juice. This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of lipids(mainly triglycerides) into fatty acids and glycerol. When incomplete hydrolysis occurs triglycerides can become monoglycerides.

Answer 2

Digestive enzymes are the natural substances our body needs to help break down and digest food

We have three main digestive enzymes :

Proteases: These enzymes break down protein into small peptides and amino acids.

Lipases: break down fat into three fatty acids plus a glycerol molecule.

Amylases: Are responsible for breaking down carbs like starch into simple sugars.

Step-by-step explanation: