Location and conditions required for effective action of digestive enzymes
Location and conditions required for effective action of digestive enzymes
Location and Effectiveness of Digestive Enzymes
General role of Digestive Enzymes
- Digestive enzymes play a vital role in breaking down food into smaller, absorbable elements.
- Inside the body, enzymes catalyze chemical reactions, speeding up the rate at which digestion can occur.
Location & Specific Role of Amylase
- Amylase is produced in the salivary glands, pancreas and small intestine.
- It plays an important role in breaking down complex carbohydrates, like starch, into simpler sugars that the body can absorb. For instance, it converts starch into maltose.
Location & Specific Role of Protease
- Protease, also known as proteolytic enzymes, are produced in the stomach, pancreas and small intestine.
- This enzyme breaks down protein into smaller amino acids, making it easier for the body to absorb them.
Location & Specific Role of Lipase
- Lipase is primarily produced in the pancreas and the small intestine.
- It specifically targets fats and oils in food, breaking them down into their basic components, glycerol and fatty acids.
Conditions for Effective Action
- Digestive enzymes are specialized and work best under certain conditions.
- For instance, protease enzymes in the stomach function best in a highly acidic environment with pH around 2, facilitated by the hydrochloric acid present in the stomach.
- Amylase enzymes in the mouth and small intestine function best at a nearly neutral pH, highlighting how different enzymes work optimally in different settings.
- Optimum temperature for these enzymes is around 37°C which is the normal body temperature. They may become inactive or denatured at high temperatures.
- Enzymes also work better when there is a larger surface area of food to work on; this is facilitated by the mechanical digestion through chewing in the mouth and churning in the stomach.