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Amylase

Carbohydrases break carbohydrates down into sugars. Amylase is a type of carbohydrase that breaks down starch in our bodies:

Production

Production

  • Amylase is produced in:
    • Small intestine
    • Pancreas
    • Salivary glands
Purpose

Purpose

  • Amylase breaks down starch into its constituent simple sugars (predominantly maltose).
  • Starch → Maltose (+ other sugars).
Action sites

Action sites

  • The sites of action (where it breaks down starch) of amylase are:
    • The small intestine
    • The mouth
Maltase

Maltase

  • After starch has been broken down into maltose, an enzyme called maltase breaks down maltose into a smaller sugar, glucose.
  • This happens on the epithelial lining of the small intestine, so that glucose can pass through the membrane straight into the bloodstream.
Jump to other topics
1

The Nature & Variety of Living Organisms

2

Structure & Functions in Living Organisms

3

Organism Functions

3.1

Respiration

3.2

Gas Exchange

3.3

Transport

3.4

Excretion

3.5

Coordination & Response

4

Reproduction & Inheritance

5

Ecology

6

Biological Resources

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