Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)

What is the primary function of alpha amylase?

1. Protein synthesis

2. Carbohydrate breakdown

3. Fat digestion

4. Vitamins absorption

The correct answer is: Carbohydrate breakdown

The primary function of alpha amylase is indeed carbohydrate breakdown. Alpha amylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch into sugars. It is found in saliva and the pancreas, playing a crucial role in the digestive process by initiating the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth when it is secreted in saliva, and further breaking down carbohydrates in the small intestine. This enzyme effectively cleaves the alpha bonds of larger carbohydrate molecules, converting them into smaller, more digestible sugars like maltose and dextrins, which can then be further processed by other enzymes in the digestive system. The other functions mentioned, such as protein synthesis, fat digestion, and vitamin absorption, are associated with different enzymes and processes. Protein synthesis involves ribosomes and various amino acids, fat digestion is primarily carried out by lipases, and vitamins absorption primarily occurs through intestinal transport mechanisms, not specific enzymatic processes like those of alpha amylase. By focusing on carbohydrate metabolism, this highlights the specialized role alpha amylase plays in the digestive system.