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While testing amylase activity, John uses a buffer of pH 6 and substrate starch. He incubates them at 104ºF (40ºC). All the tubes show glucose formation, except one, which had no starch solution. Why did this happen?

Question

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While testing amylase activity, John uses a buffer of pH 6 and substrate starch. He incubates them at 104ºF (40ºC). All the tubes show glucose formation, except one, which had no starch solution. Why did this happen?

chrisbelow · Answer

Amylase is an enzyme that 'digests' starch (a polysaccharide) to monosaccharides (Glucose). If you put starch together with Amylase in one tube and incubate under right conditions, the reaction will take place. In this case, Amylase will cut off glucose units from the end of the starch molecule. If there is no starch within the tube then Amylase will perform no reaction and no glucose will be released.