ENZYMES IN

Apuntes

• Biological Molecules in Cells Cells of all living organisms mainly consist of four types of molecules: carbohydrates (C, H, O), lipids (C, H, O), proteins (C, H, O, N), and nucleic acids (C, H, O, N, P). • Importance of Proteins, Lipids, Carbohydrates, and Nucleic Acids Proteins are vital for growth, repair, and cell functions. They form enzymes, muscle fibers, and antibodies. Lipids store energy, form cell membranes, provide insulation, protect organs, and play a role in cell signaling. Carbohydrates are the primary energy source for cells. Nucleic acids store and transmit genetic information. • How Do We Use These Molecules? Enzymes are special proteins that speed up chemical reactions. They are unaffected by the reactions, allowing cells to reuse them repeatedly. Enzymes act on molecules called substrates, transforming them into products. • Types of Digestive Enzymes Digestive enzymes break down biological molecules in food. These include proteases, lipases, amylase, nucleases, peptidases, and sucrases. • Amylases Produced in the mouth and pancreas (secreted into the duodenum), amylases digest starch into smaller sugars. • Proteases Proteases break down proteins int...