Amylase
Biology: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 2.3.18
Amylase
Carbohydrases break carbohydrates down into sugars. Amylase is a type of carbohydrase that breaks down starch in our bodies:
Production
- Amylase is produced in:
- Small intestine
- Pancreas
- Salivary glands
Purpose
- Amylase breaks down starch into its constituent simple sugars (predominantly maltose).
- Starch → Maltose (+ other sugars).
Action sites
- The sites of action (where it breaks down starch) of amylase are:
- The small intestine
- The mouth
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.
Test yourself on Amylase
Which of these are true of maltase?