Enzymes catalyse chemical reactions and are large protein molecules and they have a groove on their surface called the active site where the substrate attaches to.
Molecules Broken Down
Proteins/Protease
- Proteins are broken down by protease
- Protease is found in the stomach, pancreas and small intestine
- Proteins are broken down into their individual Amino Acids
- Amino acids are absorbed into bloodstream then they are then joined in a different order to make human proteins
Carbohydrates/Carbohydrase & Starch/Amylase
- Carbohydrates are broken down Carbohydrases in the specific case of Starch it’s broken down by amylase
- Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars
- Amylase is found in the saliva and pancreatic fluid
Lipids/Lipase
- Lipids are broken down by lipase into fatty acids and glycerol
- Lipase is found int the pancreatic fluid and small intestine
Bile
- Bile is made in the liver and is stored in the gall bladder.
- It helps to speed up digestion of lipids but it is NOT and enzyme
- It converts large lipid droplets into smaller ones - this is called emulsifying the lipid
- It’s an alkaline that neutralises stomach acid