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No, because amylase, like all other enzymes, has a very specific structure. Only one substrate has a shape that is complementary to amylase, which is starch. Any other molecules will be unable to bind to the active site, and so reactions with other substances won't happen.

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14y ago
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5mo ago

Saliva contains enzymes like amylase that break down starches into sugars. It also has enzymes that help to break down fats and proteins to some extent. However, saliva is not as effective at breaking down fats and proteins as it is at breaking down starch.

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12y ago

In order for that to happen you need to have amylase in your saliva. Amylase breaks down starch into sugar

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11y ago

No

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4y ago

Chemical change

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4y ago

Is it change of state

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Q: Can saliva break down any substances other than starch?
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Related questions

Does the stomach produce saliva?

Only the mouth produces saliva. The stomach organ produces gastric juices to break down foods. Saliva breaks down starch , when food reaches the stomach ,starch will be mostly broken down , thus the need of a new substance to break other nutrients is needed , eg: pepsin.


What in saliva begins to break down the food?

pepsin Human saliva is composed of 98% water, while the other 2% consists of other compounds such as electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds, and various enzymes. As part of the initial process of food digestion, the enzymes in the saliva break down some of the starch and fat in the food at the molecular level. Saliva also breaks down food caught in the teeth, protecting them from bacteria that cause decay.


Where is protein in my body?

insulin, saliva, nasal mucus, and other substances


What structure secretes saliva gastric juices and other substances used in digestion?

enzymes


What enzyme is used to digest starch?

Digestion of starch and other carbohydrates begins in the mouth with an enzyme called salivary amylase.


What are the functions of saliva in humans?

The basic function of saliva is to moisten and Lubricate food. Saliva also contains salivary amylase which breaks the covalent bonds between glucose molecules in starch and other polysaccharides to produce the disaccharides maltose and isomaltose.


Is saliva a mixture or a pure substance?

It is a mixture of COMPOUNDS not a mixture of pure substances.


What are the Two important reasons for saliva turns sugars into starches?

Enzymes in saliva break starches into simpler sugars, not the other way around.


Why is saliva an enzyme?

Saliva contains enzymes like amylase that help break down carbohydrates in food into simpler sugars that can be absorbed by the body. This process begins the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth before they reach the stomach for further processing.


What enzymes are contained in saliva?

Amylase and lysozyme are enzymes found in the saliva. The former initiates the breakdown of starch into smaller carboydrate units, while the latter inhibits bacterial growth in the oral cavity. There are several other pathogen inhibiting enzymes in saliva. Saliva also contains a lipase enzyme for the breakdown of lipids, but it is not very active until it reaches the low pH of the stomach. Saliva also contains ptyalin.


What organ is needed to digest starches and protein?

Your mouth begins digesting starch. Saliva contains enzymes that help digest starch. Then when food enters your small intestine, other enzymes help digest starch. In your large intestine, bacteria help you digest starch.


Why does saliva contains a protein?

The most commonly mentioned protein in human saliva, is salivary (α-)amylase - an enzyme that helps process starch into smaller sugar molecules. In addition to that, there are quite a few other proteins in saliva. A few examples would be a variety of lipase (lipid digesting enzyme) that is activated only in the stomach; mucins; secretory IgA and various antimicrobial enzymes. The list goes on,