Question

You’ve just placed a peanut butter cup (containing lipid, carbohydrates, and protein) into your mouth and are mentally preparing yourself for the process of digestion. Draw a diagram tracing the peanut butter cup as it moves through your body. Using the given list of enzymes label where in the body they act and which macronutrients they act on. You may need to use resources other than your lab manual to complete this activity.

Amylase

Dipetidase

Bile salts

Lipase (Used twice)

Pepsin

Trypsin

Sucrase

Answer 1

The digestion process is a series of reactions of food with the digestive hormones and juices. This starts right from the oral cavity. It is an important process that breaks down the proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals into simpler forms so that it can be absorbed easily into the body cells.

Amylase: Amylase is a protein made by pancreas and by glands in mouth and throat. It helps in break down carbohydrates and starches into sugar.

Dipeptidase: Dipeptidases hydrolyze amino acids and are secreted by the brush border of the villi in the small intestine.

Bile: It contains bile acids, which are critical for digestion and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the small intestine.

Lipase: It is an enzyme that breaks down dietary fats into smaller molecules called fatty acids and glycerol. This enzyme specifically digests butter fat. The main source of lipase is pancreas which produces pancreatic lipase that acts in your small intestine.

Pepsin: It is an endopeptidase that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides. It is secreted by glands of stomuch and catalyzes the partial hydrolysis of proteins.

Trypsin: It catalyzes the proteins into smaller peptides. It acts in deodenum. Tryptic digestion is a necessary step in protein absorption.

Sucrase: It is a digestive enzyme secreted in the small intestine and are located on the brush border of the small intestine. It breaks down the sucrose into fructose and glucose.