Beano, an over-the-counter gas inhibitor, contains a digestive enzyme called alpha-galactosidase. Will it help to digest the following disaccharide? No. Yes.
Added by Virginia P.
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(Note: The question does not specify the disaccharide, so consider common disaccharides such as lactose, sucrose, or maltose.) Show more…
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Beano contains an enzyme that breaks down polysaccharides into smaller, more digestible sugars, which diminishes the intestinal gas formation that can occur after eating foods such as vegetables and beans. $(20.1,20.2,20.5)$ a. The label says "contains alpha-galactosidase." What class of enzyme is this? b. What is the substrate for the enzyme? c. The directions indicate you should not cook with or heat Beano. Why?
Shveta P.
Shown below is the molecule raffinose, a trisaccharide that is found in beans, cabbage, and other vegetables. Since humans do not have the α-galactosidase enzymes necessary to hydrolyze the α-glycosidic linkage between D-galactose and D-glucose, raffinose proceeds through the stomach undigested. It is then fermented by gas-producing bacteria in the intestines, causing gas and bloating. Beano is a product available in stores that contains the α-galactosidase enzymes needed to break down these foods and prevent gas.
Adi S.
Using enzymes, humans break down complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars/monosaccharides for absorption in the GI tract. Humans do not possess enzymes to break down all starches/carbohydrates present in nature. These substances pass into the large intestine, incompletely digested, as "fiber". In the large intestine, there are bacteria that contain enzymes capable of breaking down some of these compounds. In the process of doing so, they release gases, which may be experienced as physical and social discomfort. Humans do not produce alpha-galactosidase, the enzyme needed to break down the oligosaccharides in vegetables like beans and broccoli. The product "Beano" claims it can stop gas before it starts, because it contains the enzymes alpha-galactosidase (converts oligosaccharides into galactose and sucrose) and invertase (digests sucrose into glucose & fructose). Some people claim Beano works for them, others say it does not work for them. Design an experiment that may be performed in our lab, during the 3-hour time period, that does not use human subjects, to test the validity of Beano's claims. Be sure to include & label control and experimental groups; independent, dependent & control variables; and positive and negative controls. Describe the methods you will use including equipment and supplies you will need. Include a hypothesis. Include charts/tables on which you may record your data.
Madhur L.
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