PhysioEx Lab Report
Exercise 8: Chemical and Physical Processes of Digestion
Activity 2: Exploring Amylase Substrate Specificity
Name: Vendenise Micah Gilbero
Date: 25 February 2025
Session ID: session-7ce2896b-092d-e347-bd04-69ffcea5748e
Pre-lab Quiz Results
You scored 100% by answering 5 out of 5 questions correctly.
1 Which of the following is true of enzymes and substrates?
You correctly answered: Enzymes are specific about the substrates they can act
upon.
2 Which of the following is/are reducing sugars?
You correctly answered: both glucose and maltose .
3 Cellulose and starch are both
You correctly answered: polymers of glucose and polysaccharides.
4 Proteins and peptides are formed by joining amino acids with a special type of
covalent bond called a peptide bond. Which of the following enzymes do you think
would be specific for a peptide bond?
You correctly answered: peptidase.
5 The Benedict's assay tests for the presence of
You correctly answered: reducing sugar.
Experiment Results
Predict Question
https://media.pearsoncmg.com/bc/bc_0media_ap/physioex/10/ex8/act2/ 2/25/25, 10 35 PM
Page 1 of 4
:
1 Predict Question: Do you think test tube 3 (amylase, cellulose, pH 7.0 buffer) will
show a positive Benedict's test?
Your answer: no.
Stop & Think Questions
1 You included tube 2 (amylase, glucose, pH 7.0 buffer) to
You correctly answered: see what a positive Benedict's test should look like.
2 Which tube is included to detect contaminating amylase in the buffer or in
cellulose?
You correctly answered: None of the above.
3 What is the usual substrate for the pancreatic enzyme peptidase?
You correctly answered: peptides.
Experiment Data
Tube No. Reagent Reagent Reagent Time Temp IKI Benedict's
1 2 3 (min) (°C)
pH 7.0
1 Amylase Starch 60 37 - ++
Buffer
pH 7.0
2 Amylase Glucose 60 37 - ++
Buffer
pH 7.0
3 Amylase Cellulose 60 37 - -
Buffer
pH 7.0 Deionized
4 Cellulose 60 37 - -
Buffer Water
pH 7.0
5 Peptidase Starch 60 37 + -
Buffer
pH 7.0
6 Bacteria Cellulose 60 37 - ++
Buffer
Post-lab Quiz Results
https://media.pearsoncmg.com/bc/bc_0media_ap/physioex/10/ex8/act2/ 2/25/25, 10 35 PM
Page 2 of 4
:
You scored 100% by answering 4 out of 4 questions correctly.
1 The substrate(s) for amylase is/are
You correctly answered: starch.
2 The results of tube 5 (peptidase, starch, pH 7.0 buffer) demonstrated that
You correctly answered: peptidase does not digest starch.
3 Why was the cellulose in tube 6 (bacteria, cellulose, pH 7.0 buffer) hydrolyzed to
glucose?
You correctly answered: The bacterial suspension contained the enzyme cellulase,
which digested the cellulose.
4 Which tube allows you to conclude that the buffer was not contaminated with
amylase?
You correctly answered: tube 5 (peptidase, starch, pH 7.0 buffer).
Review Sheet Results
1 Describe why the results in tube 1 (amylase, starch, pH 7.0 buffer) and tube 2
(amylase, glucose, pH 7.0 buffer) are the same.
Your answer:
Both tubes show a negative IKI test and a positive Benedict’s test (++), indicating
the presence of reducing sugars. This is because amylase breaks down starch into
maltose, which reacts with Benedict’s reagent similarly to glucose. Since Tube 2
already contains glucose, no breakdown is needed, resulting in the same
Benedict’s test result.
2 Describe the result in tube 3 (amylase, cellulose, pH 7.0 buffer). How well did the
results compare with your prediction?
Your answer:
There is no positive Benedict’s test, confirming that amylase did not break down
https://media.pearsoncmg.com/bc/bc_0media_ap/physioex/10/ex8/act2/ 2/25/25, 10 35 PM
Page 3 of 4
:
cellulose. This aligns with my prediction since amylase specifically hydrolyzes
starch, not cellulose.
3 Describe the usual substrate for peptidase.
Your answer:
Peptidase enzymes typically break down proteins into amino acids by hydrolyzing
peptide bonds. Starch is not a protein, so peptidase does not act on it, explaining
the positive IKI test in Tube 5.
4 Explain how bacteria can aid in digestion.
Your answer:
Bacteria in the gut help break down complex carbohydrates, like cellulose, that
human digestive enzymes cannot process. They produce specialized enzymes
(e.g., cellulase) that ferment fiber into short-chain fatty acids, providing energy and
promoting gut health.
https://media.pearsoncmg.com/bc/bc_0media_ap/physioex/10/ex8/act2/ 2/25/25, 10 35 PM
Page 4 of 4
:
