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The digestive system is very complicated but important to understand from a medical standpoint. Not only is this system import for nutrition but also for immunity. The human body is one amazing complex and to understand how every system works is very important. In the past weeks, our blog has explained the functions of the GI system but this week we are going to focus on the small, unpopular functions also known as the GI enzymes.
Enzymes are substances produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction (List of Digestive Enzymes and Functions, n.d.). There are enzymes in each part of your digestion system and all have a specific function. Let’s create a scenario: You are about to eat a meal that contains a steak, mashed potatoes, and a warm roll. LET THE DIGESTION BEGIN!
Here are all the digestive enzymes in the mouth and their function
1. Ptyalin – Converts starch to simple soluble sugars
2. Amylase – Converts starch to soluble sugars
3. Betaine – Maintains cell fluid balance as osmolytes
4. Bromelain – Anti-inflammatory agent, tenderizes meat
So before you even swallow your bite of this meal, you begin digesting. (List of Digestive Enzymes and Functions, n.d.). Now anatomy and physiology explains to us that the next place for the food to stop is the stomach.
Here are all the digestive enzymes in the stomach and their functions:
1 Pepsin is the main gastric enzyme. It breaks proteins into smaller peptide fragments.
2 Gelatinase, degrades type I and type V gelatin and type IV and V collagen, which are proteoglycans in meat.
3 Gastric amylase degrades starch, but is of minor significance.
4 Gastric lipase is a tributyrase by its biochemical activity, as it acts almost exclusively on tributyrin, a butter fat enzyme.
5 Pepsin enzyme is secreted by gastric glands
6 Renin enzyme change the liquid milk to solid (List of Digestive Enzymes and Functions, n.d.).
From the stomach the food then travels to the small intestines. The small villi in the intestines are what suck up all the nutrients from the enzymes breaking down the food we digest.
Here are the digestive enzymes for the small intestine and their functions:
1. Cholecystokinin – Stimulates digestion of proteins and fats
2. Secretin – Controls secretion of duodenum and osmoregulation
3. Sucrase – Converts sucrose to disaccharides and monosaccharides
4. Maltase – Converts maltose to glucose
5. Lactase – Converts lactose to glucose and galactose
6. Isomaltase – Converts maltose to isomaltose (List of Digestive Enzymes and Functions, n.d.).
We also need to remember other organs help aid in the digestion of food. The pancreas is one those organs.
Here is a list of the pancreatic enzymes and their functions:
1. Pancreatic lipase – Degrades triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol
2. Chymotrypsin – Converts proteins to aromatic amino acids
3. Carboxypeptidase – Degradation of proteins to amino acids
4. Pancreatic amylase – Degradation of carbohydrates to simple sugars
5. Elastases – Degrade the protein elastin
6. Nucleases – Conversion of nucleic acids to nucleotides and nucleosides
7. Trypsin – Converts proteins to basic amino acids
8. Steapsin – Breakdown of triglycerides to glycerol and fatty acids
9. Phospholipase – Hydrolyzes phospholipids into fatty acids and lipophilic substances (List of Digestive Enzymes and Functions, n.d.).
Now that all the enzymes has been addressed and their functions explained, one can truly understand how complex and fascinating the digestive system is and how it works. With the understanding of the enzymes, we can better address certain issues that everyday people have with digestion and help educated every to healthy and happy stomach and digestive system.
Citation:
List of Digestive Enzymes and Functions. (n.d.). Retrieved from Digestive Enzyme Store : http://digestiveenzymesstore.com/list-of-digestive-enzymes-and-functions/
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