Answer to Question #87648 in Chemistry for khadiajh

Question

The three pH values tested correspond to digestive processes that occur in the stomach (pH1)the first part of the intestines duodenum (pH6) further into intestines (pH8). At which pH value did you find the highest enzymatic activity ? Where in the body does lactose act to digest lactose?

Answer 1

Most digestive enzymes are pH sensitive and possess the highest activity at a specific pH. As a result, stomach digestive enzymes (i.e., pepsin) are active at low pH (pH 1-2) that is maintained by the production of hydrochloric acid. In the duodenum, some enzymes produced by the pancreas (amylase) or produced by enterocytes (lactase, saccharase) are active at pH 6-7. Some other enzymes that are produced by the pancreas (trypsin) are active at pH 8. As a result, lactase that breaks down lactose is produced by the intestinal cells (enterocytes), is localized at the apical membrane of the enterocytes (brush border) of the small intestine and is active at pH 6.