Question

pancreatic amylase is a digestive enzyme that digests starch in the small intestine. pancreatic amylase's optimum pH is slightly basic, which the presence of NaHCO3 provides. indicate which test tubes (1-3) would show digestion of starch following incubation. Explain why the others would not.

Tube 1 = water, starch
Tube 2 = water, starch, pancreatic amylase, HCI
Tube 3 = water, starch, pancreatic amylase, NaHCO3

Answer 1

Answer:

Tube 3

Explanation:

Pancreatic amylase's optimum pH is basic, NaHCO3 is a base so it will provide the optimum pH for the enzyme to catalyse the breakdown of starch.

In tube 1 there will not be the breakdown of starch as there simply isn't any enzyme to break it down.

In Tube 2, the enzyme pancreatic amylase will most probably become denatured (loss of shape), as HCl is acidic which causes it to lose shape causing a change in the active site and will never be able to catalyse the breakdown of starch.

Hope this helps :)