# [[Digestive enzymes]] There are 3 types of digestive enzymes, carbohydrases, proteases, and lipases, each specialized to different macro nutrients. Carbohydrases break down carbohydrates into simpler sugars (e.g. glucose). Proteases break down proteins into amino acids. Lipoases break down lipids into glycol and fatty acids. Amylase is a carbohydrase, secreted in saliva and by the pancreas in the small intestine. Pepsin (an endopeptidase) is a protease secreted in the stomach that acts at low pH to break down proteins into smaller peptides. Trypsin is another protease produced by the pancreas and secreted into the small intestine that is able to act at higher pH to further break down peptides into amino acids. Human Pancreatic Lipase is a lipase secreted by the pancreas that breaks apart a triglyceride into a monoglyceride and 2 fatty acids. Enzymes not only break down larger molecules into simpler ones, they are also a key part in synthesis of larger molecules from their smaller building blocks. --- - Links: [[Biology]] [[Nutrition]] [[Digestion]] [[Chemistry]] [[Macro-nutrients]] - Created at: [[2021-03-02]]