What is the function of digestive enzymes?
Digestive enzymes are biological catalysts that help break down complex molecules of food into smaller molecules so that they can be absorbed from the alimentary canal.
Different enzymes act on different food components. For example, salivary amylase breaks down starch into simple sugar. Pepsin and trypsin digest proteins, while lipase breaks down emulsified fats. The enzymes in intestinal juice finally convert proteins to amino acids, complex carbohydrates into glucose, and fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
Explanation
The textbook explains that enzymes are biological catalysts that break complex food molecules into smaller molecules for absorption. Specific examples from context include: salivary amylase (starch to simple sugar), pepsin (protein digestion in stomach), trypsin (protein digestion from pancreas), lipase (breaking down emulsified fats), and intestinal enzymes that convert proteins to amino acids, carbohydrates to glucose, and fats to fatty acids and glycerol.