Digestive Enzymes

• The major nutrients required for a healthy diet are carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.
• The digestive system breaks down large molecules of food, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream.
• The region of the digestive system where lipase is produced is the small intestine, specifically the duodenum.
• Lipase is an enzyme that breaks down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol.
• The groups of enzymes involved in the breakdown of food are: Carbohydrases, which break down carbohydrates; Proteases, which break down proteins; and Lipases, which break down lipids.
• Starch is a type of carbohydrate.
• The carbohydrase that breaks down starch is amylase.
• Amylase is an enzyme that can break down starch into simple sugars.
• Proteases break down proteins into amino acids.
• Lipases break down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol.
• Carbohydrases break down carbohydrates in several regions of the digestive system.
• Most of the carbohydrate we eat is starch, so this will be the main substrate in the early part of digestion for enzyme action.
• Pancreatic amylase is an enzyme that is produced in the pancreas and breaks down starch into maltose.
• Protease - peptidase is an enzyme that is produced in the wall of the ileum and completes the breakdown of proteins into amino acids.
• Lipases break down lipids in one region of the digestive system.
• Amylase is an enzyme that is produced in the wall of the ileum and breaks down maltose into glucose.
• Protease - pepsin is an enzyme that is produced in the stomach and begins the breakdown of proteins into amino acids.
• Salivary glands are where salivary amylase is produced.
• Starch is the substrate that is broken down into maltose by salivary amylase.
• Protease - trypsin is an enzyme that is produced in the pancreas and continues the breakdown of proteins into amino acids.
• Proteases break down proteins in several regions of the digestive system.
• Salivary amylase is an enzyme that is produced in the mouth and breaks down starch into maltose.
• Starch is the substrate that is broken down into maltose by pancreatic amylase.