The pancreatic enzyme that hydrolyses starch is called

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Alpha‑amylase (the pancreatic form of amylase) specifically hydrolyses the alpha-1,4 glycosidic bonds in starch, breaking large polysaccharides into smaller sugars such as maltose, maltotriose and limit dextrins.

Relevant knowledge points and concepts:
- Starch is a polysaccharide composed of glucose units linked mainly by alpha‑1,4 glycosidic bonds (and some alpha‑1,6 branch points).
- Amylases (salivary and pancreatic) catalyze hydrolysis of these alpha‑1,4 bonds.
- Pancreatic amylase is secreted by pancreatic acinar cells into the duodenum and works optimally in near‑neutral pH.
- Other digestive enzymes act on different substrates: proteases on proteins, lipases on triglycerides, and lactase on lactose disaccharide.

Step‑by‑step reasoning:
1. Identify the substrate named in the question: starch (a glucose polymer).
2. Match the substrate to enzyme function: the enzyme that hydrolyses starch must cleave glycosidic bonds between glucose units.
3. Evaluate options:
   - a. protease — hydrolyses peptide bonds in proteins, not carbohydrates.
   - b. lipase — hydrolyses ester bonds in lipids (triglycerides), not carbohydrates.
   - c. lactase — a disaccharidase that splits lactose into glucose + galactose; it does not act on starch.
   - d. amylase — specifically targets starch and glycogen by cleaving alpha‑1,4 glycosidic linkages.

Why the correct answer is correct:
Pancreatic amylase is the physiologically relevant enzyme in the pancreas that digests starch. It converts starch into smaller sugars that are then further broken down by brush‑border enzymes (maltase, isomaltase) to yield absorbable monosaccharides.

Why other options are incorrect:
Protease, lipase, and lactase target proteins, fats, and lactose respectively — none hydrolyse starch.

Conclusion:
The correct choice is d. amylase, which matches the provided answer.

The pancreatic enzyme that hydrolyses starch is calledSingle choice

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