Amylase

Excerpt

Amylase is a digestive enzyme predominantly secreted by the pancreas and salivary glands and is present in other tissues at minimal levels. Amylase was initially described in the early 1800s and is one of the pioneering enzymes to undergo scientific investigation. Although this enzyme was originally termed diastaste, it was later renamed "amylase" in the early 20th century.

The primary role of amylases is to break down the glycosidic bonds within starch molecules, transforming complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars. Amylase enzymes are categorized into 3 main classes—alpha-, beta-, and gamma amylases—each targeting distinct segments of the carbohydrate molecule. Alpha amylase is present in humans, animals, plants, and microbes, whereas beta amylase is primarily found in microbes and plants. Gamma amylase, on the other hand, can be located in both animals and plants.

In 1908, a study by Wohlgemuth identified the presence of amylase in urine, paving the way for its application as a diagnostic laboratory test. Amylase is a frequently ordered standard diagnostic test, often combined with lipase, particularly when acute pancreatitis is suspected in patients.