AQA · GCSE · Biology
Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018
Students should be able to recall the sites of production and the action…
Full specification wording
The human digestive system: Students should be able to recall the sites of production and the action of amylase, proteases and lipases.
Digestive enzymes are produced in specific organs and act on specific substrates.
Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 7 of 25
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Digestive enzymes are produced in specific organs and act on specific substrates. Amylase is produced in the salivary glands and the pancreas; it acts on starch, breaking it down to sugars such as maltose. Proteases are produced in the stomach, the pancreas and the small intestine; they act on proteins, breaking them down to amino acids. Lipases are produced in the pancreas and the small intestine; they act on lipids, breaking them down to fatty acids and glycerol. The products are small soluble molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
For example: Starch eaten in bread is partly digested by salivary amylase in the mouth, then further digested by pancreatic amylase in the small intestine.
What earns the marks
- Amylase is produced in the salivary glands and the pancreas and acts on starch to produce sugars.
- Proteases are produced in the stomach, the pancreas and the small intestine and act on proteins to produce amino acids.
- Lipases are produced in the pancreas and the small intestine and act on lipids to produce fatty acids and glycerol.
- Each enzyme acts on a specific substrate, producing small soluble products that can be absorbed.
- The pancreas is a site of production for amylase, proteases and lipases.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Naming the stomach as a site of lipase production.
Put it right by stating that lipases are produced in the pancreas and small intestine.
Saying proteases produce glucose.
Put it right by stating that proteases break proteins down to amino acids.
Confusing the substrate of amylase with protein.
Put it right by stating that amylase acts on starch.
Exam tips
- Organise your answer as enzyme, site of production, substrate and products to cover every part of the question.
- Use the exact product names amino acids, fatty acids and glycerol rather than vague terms such as broken-down food.
- If a question gives a named organ, check whether it produces more than one of the three enzymes before answering.
Try the lesson
The start of the The human digestive system: Students should be able to recall the sites of production and the action of amylase, proteases and lipases. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which enzyme is produced in the salivary glands?
Listen
Digestive enzymes are produced in specific organs and act on specific substrates. Amylase is produced in the salivary glands and the pancreas; it acts on starch, breaking it down to sugars such as maltose. Proteases are produced in the stomach, the pancreas and the small intestine; they act on proteins, breaking them down to amino acids. Lipases are produced in the pancreas and the small intestine; they act on lipids, breaking them down to fatty acids and glycerol. The products are small soluble molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. For example, starch eaten in bread is partly digested by salivary amylase in the mouth, then further digested by pancreatic amylase in the small intestine. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Amylase is produced in the salivary glands and the pancreas and acts on starch to produce sugars. Proteases are produced in the stomach, the pancreas and the small intestine and act on proteins to produce amino acids. Lipases are produced in the pancreas and the small intestine and act on lipids to produce fatty acids and glycerol. Each enzyme acts on a specific substrate, producing small soluble products that can be absorbed. A common slip: Naming the stomach as a site of lipase production. Instead, stating that lipases are produced in the pancreas and small intestine. Exam tip: Organise your answer as enzyme, site of production, substrate and products to cover every part of the question.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Amylase
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Proteases
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Lipases
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Enzyme specificity
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See every definition
- Amylase
- Produced in the salivary glands and the pancreas, it acts on starch, breaking it down to sugars such as maltose.
- Proteases
- Produced in the stomach, the pancreas and the small intestine, they act on proteins, breaking them down to amino acids.
- Lipases
- Produced in the pancreas and the small intestine, they act on lipids, breaking them down to fatty acids and glycerol.
- Enzyme specificity
- Each enzyme acts on a specific substrate, producing small soluble products that can be absorbed.
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