Enzyme Functions in Digestion

Steps:

• Identify amylase's role: it hydrolyzes starch, a polysaccharide, into maltose, a disaccharide.
• Identify lipase's role: it breaks down fats (triglycerides) into fatty acids and glycerol.
• Compare choices: match substrates (starch for amylase, fat for lipase) and products (maltose for amylase, fatty acids for lipase).
• Eliminate mismatches: options with incorrect substrates or products for either enzyme.

Why C is correct:

• Amylase acts on starch via hydrolysis (starch + H2O → maltose), while lipase catalyzes fat breakdown (triglycerides + H2O → fatty acids + glycerol), per standard biochemical definitions.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: Amylase targets starch, not protein; protein digestion involves proteases like pepsin.
• B: Amylase targets starch, not protein; glycogen breakdown uses glycogen phosphorylase, not lipase.
• D: Lipase targets fat, not protein; protein digestion uses proteases.

Final answer: C