Many health food stores carry enzyme preparations intended for oral ingestion (by mouth) to supplement existing enzymes in various organs like the liver, heart, and muscle. Use your knowledge of the digestion process to explain why these preparations are unlikely to be effective as advertised.

What will be an ideal response?


Ingested proteins are digested to small peptide fragments and amino acids. Amino acids are absorbed in the small intestine. Enzyme activity depends on the intact three-dimensional structure of the proteins. Digested enzymes would no longer have their three-dimensional protein structure and therefore would not function as enzymes.

Biology & Microbiology

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Progressive chromosomal changes as cancer develops are related to the loss of the ability to repair ____________________ in cancer cells

Fill in the blank(s) with correct word

Biology & Microbiology

Gram-negative cell walls have an outer membrane that contains lipids and peptidoglycans

____________________ Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

Biology & Microbiology

Explain how the destruction of the original tropical forests will affect the development of new medicines

What will be an ideal response?

Biology & Microbiology

Where is the majority of ATP generated in prokaryotic cells?

A) in the cytoplasmic membrane B) in the cytosol C) in the thylakoids D) in the inner mitochondrial membrane E) on ribosomes

Biology & Microbiology