Question

Amylopsin acts upon
A. Polypeptides
B. Polysaccharides in any medium
C. Polysaccharide in acidic medium
D. Polysaccharide in alkaline medium

Answer 1

Hint: Amylopsin is a digestive enzyme which is secreted during digestion of food. The digestive system consists of the digestive tract, a continuous tube running through the ventral body cavity extending from mouth to anus and its associated accessory organs. The digestive tract is also called the alimentary canal or alimentary tract.

Complete Answer:
The process of digestion is completed by mechanical and chemical processes. It involves various various organs and digestive glands. The various organs secrete different substances to complete the digestion and have different pH levels.

Some of the different digestive glands are Salivary glands , gastric glands, liver, pancreas and intestinal glands.
1. Salivary glands: There are two types of salivary glands i.e. intrinsic and extrinsic. The intrinsic salivary glands are an indefinite number dispersed in oral tissues. They include lingual glands in tongue, labial glands on the inside of lips and buccal glands on the inside of cheeks.
2. Gastric gland: Two or three tubular gastric glands open into the bottom of each gastric pit. According to the region of stomach, there are three types of gastric glands namely cardiac, fundic and pyloric.
3. Liver: Some functions are - production of bile, used in the emulsification and absorption of fats. Manufactures the anticoagulant heparin and plasma proteins like albumin, clotting factors like fibrinogen and prothrombin.
4. Pancreas: It consists of a globose head located within the curve of duodenum, a middle portion called body and a blunt, tapered tail on the left which extend to the spleen.
Secreting cells of acini releases a mixture of digestive enzymes called pancreatic juice (contains amylopsin enzyme along with other enzymes )which leaves pancreas through a large main tube called the pancreatic duct or duct of Wirsung.
Amylopsin enzymes secreted by pancreas act upon starch in an alkaline medium and convert it into simple sugar.

The correct option is (D) i.e. Polysaccharide in alkaline medium.

Note: The endocrine part of pancreas consists of islets of Langerhans. These contain cells of 4 types: 1. Alpha cells (15 – 20%), 2. Beta cells ( 60-70%), 3. Delta and 4. F-cells (5-10%).