MadSci Network: General Biology
Query:

Re: Why did my experiment concerning starch turn out differently than expected?

Date: Thu May 16 23:27:56 2002
Posted By: John R Engen, Faculty, Chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, University of New Mexico
Area of science: General Biology
ID: 1021324010.Gb
Message:

The digestion of starch does not continue in the "stomach solution".  The 
digestion of starch in the mouth is done by the enzyme amylase which 
operates at a pH above 5.0-5.5 -- the pH in the stomach (1-1.5) inactivates 
amylase by denaturing it and preventing catalysis.  There is no digestion 
of complex sugars (starches) in the stomach.  Once food arrives in the 
small intestine where the acid from the stomach has been neutralized and is 
back up near 7.5-8.8, pancreatic amylase and other enzymes (glucosidase, 
dextrinase, sucrase, and lactase) digest the starches into simple sugars 
for absorption into the blood.  All other enzymes (except pepsin which is 
found in the stomach) operate in the small intestine at pH values around 
7.5-8.0




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