2007-03-28 05:23:50 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Salivary Amylase is an enzyme present in the saliva that breaks the bonds of starches and polysaccharides. So, digestion actually starts in the mouth. This enzyme increases the rate of breakdown of polysaccharides into simple sugars. When you say plant starch which specifically do you mean. Amylase has no effect on cellulose, but will break disaccharides and other starches (flour) also derived from plants.
2007-03-28 05:36:52 · answer #1 · answered by misoma5 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cellulose is considered as the plant starch.
Starches are glucose polymers in which glucose units are bonded by alpha-linkages.
Cellulose is a polymer made with repeated glucose units bonded together by beta-linkages.
Humans and many other animals lack an enzyme to break the beta-linkages, so they do not digest cellulose. Both salivary amylases and intestinal amylases cannot break down cellulose.
Certain animals can digest cellulose, because bacteria possessing the enzyme are present in their gut.
2007-03-28 10:56:51 · answer #2 · answered by ANITHA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It breaks starch into smaller chains of carbohydrates, which is easier to digest.
2007-03-28 05:37:10 · answer #3 · answered by chiao_yin2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋