Question

What is amylase and explain its role in the human body?

Answer 1

The proteinaceous substances without themselves undergoing any change are capable of catalyzing biochemical reactions are called enzymes.
The enzymes are grouped into six categories according to the type of chemical reaction, they catalyze – oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, ligases.

Complete answer-
Hydrolases are enzymes. They break up large molecules into smaller ones with the help of hydrogen and hydroxyl groups of water molecules. Most digestive enzymes belong to this category, e.g., amylase (causes hydrolysis of starch), sucrase, lactose. Hydrolases are divided into four types – carbohydrates (contains amylase), proteinases (contains endopeptidases), lipases, nucleases.
Salivary amylase is present in the saliva. The enzymatic hydrolysis or digestion of food is initiated in the oral cavity by the action of starch digesting enzyme called salivary amylase (ptyalin). The salivary amylase helps to convert starch that are present in food into maltose, isomaltose and small dextrins called alpha-dextrins. Thus, in the mouth the digestion of starch begins.
In pancreas the pancreatic juice contains many digesting enzymes. In this the starch digesting enzyme is pancreatic alpha-amylase that travels through a duct to reach the small intestine. It finishes the digestion of carbohydrates and produces glucose. This takes place in the duodenum (the first section of the small intestine).

Note:
There are three types of amylase – alpha (present mainly in the digestive system of humans and mammals), beta (present in yeast, molds, bacteria, and the seeds of the plants), gamma (it splits the glycosidic linkages in acidic environment). Many herbivorous and carnivorous animals lack salivary amylase in their saliva. However, the saliva of pigs contains salivary amylase.