What Are Digestive Enzymes?
The GI tract synthesizes and releases various enzymes that perform several important functions, such as breaking down of the food, digestion and assimilation. The food is subjected to enzymatic action; wherein, the solid food is converted in to proteins, fats and carbohydrates, absorbed by the body, and the waste excreted out.
List of Digestive Enzymes And Their Functions
The digestive enzymes are divided in to 4 categories. They are:
- Lipolytic Enzymes: break down fats in to glycerol and fatty acids
- Proteolytic Enzymes: break down proteins in to amino acids
- Amylolytic Enzymes: break down carbohydrates in to simple sugars
- Nucleolytic Enzyme: break down nucleic acids in to nucleotides
Also see on Enzymes for Digestion of Food
Functions of the Digestive Enzymes
- The enzymes present in the mouth are:
- Ptyalin: this enzyme breaks down carbohydrates in to simple single molecule sugars
- Amylase: his enzyme too, breaks down carbohydrates in to simple single molecule sugars
- Bromelaine: is an anti-inflammatory compound, and tenderizes meat
- Enzymes present in the stomach are:
- Pepsin: breaks down proteins in to smaller peptides
- Gastric amylase: breaks down carbs in to simple sugar
- Gastric lipase: breaks down fat
- Gelatinase: breaks down gelatin and collagen present in meat
- Enzymes present in the pancreas are:
- Trypsin: breaks down peptides in to amino acids
- Chymotrypsin: breaks down proteins in to aromatic amino acids
- Pancreatic amylase: converts carbs in to simple sugar
- Elastase: breaks down elastin
- Nuclease: converts nucleic acids in to nucleotides
- Enzymes present in the small intestine are:
- Sucrase: breaks down sucrose to monosaccharides
- Maltase: converts maltose to glucose
- Lactase: converts lactose to glucose and galactose
See more on Deficiency of Lipase Enzyme