Question

Amylase works in pH as _________

(a) 1.3 – 2.5

(b) 2.5 – 5.7

(c) 5.7 – 6.8

(d) 6.8 – 7.2

The question was posed to me in an interview.

My question comes from Anatomy and Physiology of G.I.T. topic in section Gastroenterology of Clinical Science

Answer 1

Right choice is (d) 6.8 – 7.2

Easy explanation: Amylase is a slightly basic enzyme and so it needs a basic medium to work.  When the food is ingested, the mouth has a basic medium due to the presence of saliva. Thus, the salivary amylase starts digesting the food. When the food enters the stomach, the acidic medium stops the work of the salivary amylase. When the food moves to the duodenum, the pancreatic amylase starts working.