starch, glucose, and starch + amylase

[SarcasticDwarf]

In my bio lab this week we did an experiment that I didn't quite grasp. We measured the CO2 production of 3 liquid solutions containing yeast: starch, glucose, and starch with amylase. We are nop supposed to come up with a hypothesis (obviously, I probably would have understood better if we had to come up with one prior to performin g the experiment, but I digress). I understand that yeast can produce CO2 by either respiration or fermentation. In an anaerobic environment, it would switch to fermentation. What is the significance of these three solutions though?

 

[DietSierraMist]

yeast cells cannot digest starch, but can digest glucose. amylase is a catabolic enzyme that digests the starch and turns it back into its monomeric units, glucose. so u would see elevated CO2 in the glucose and starch+glucose cultures, but not so in the one that was strictly starch

 

[minendo]

Amylase hydrolyzes starch which is made up of glucose molecules in alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds as well as alpha-1,6 glycosidic bonds.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: minendo
Amylase hydrolyzes starch which is made up of glucose molecules in alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds as well as alpha-1,6 glycosidic bonds.

you lost me about 2 words into that

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: minendo
Amylase hydrolyzes starch which is made up of glucose molecules in alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds as well as alpha-1,6 glycosidic bonds.

you lost me about 2 words into that

Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into smaller molecules.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: DeathByAnts

Originally posted by: minendo
Amylase hydrolyzes starch which is made up of glucose molecules in alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds as well as alpha-1,6 glycosidic bonds.

you lost me about 2 words into that

Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into smaller molecules.

ah, that works

Remember, when posting in ATOT, it is necessary to dumb it down.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: DietSierraMist
yeast cells cannot digest starch, but can digest glucose. amylase is a catabolic enzyme that digests the starch and turns it back into its monomeric units, glucose. so u would see elevated CO2 in the glucose and starch+glucose cultures, but not so in the one that was strictly starch

ok, I get that.

We saw (after 45 minutes) 45mm CO2 with glucose, 11mm CO2 with starch + amylase, and 3mm with starch. Why would that starch produce anything? Is it merely the last bit of oxygen being used up from the aerobic portion?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

?