List of All Enzymes Used during Digestion
Digestive enzymes help to breakdown molecules into small building blocks, which are required by our body to maintain a healthy life. These enzymes are also present in the saliva, where they assist the first step of digestion. Digestive enzymes are put into four groups. They are:
- Proteolytic Enzyme: split proteins to amino acids
- Lipolytic Enzyme: split fats to fatty acids and glycerol
- Amylolytic Enzyme: split carbohydrate and starch to simple sugars
- Nucleolytic Enzyme: split nucleic acids to nucleotides
Enzymes in specific areas and organs:
Mouth: Ptyalin- Converts starch to simple soluble sugars
Amylase- converts starch to soluble sugars
Betaine- Maintains cell fluid balance as osmolytes
Bromelain- Anti-inflammatory agent, tenderizes meat
Stomach: Pepsin- Breaks protein into small polypeptides
Gastric Amylase- Degradation of starch
Gastric Lipase- Degradation of butter fat
Pancreas: Pancreatic Lipase- Degrades triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol
Phospholipase- Hydrolyzes phospholipids into fatty acids and lipophilic substances
Trypsin- Converts proteins into aromatic amino acids
Pancreatic Amylase- degradation of carbohydrates to simple sugars
Nucleases- Conversion of nucleic acids to nucleotides and nucleosides
Small Intestine: Sucrase- converts sucrose to disaccharides and monosaccharides
Maltase- Converts maltose to glucose
Lactase- Converts lactose to glucose and galactose
Isomaltase- Converts maltose to isomaltose