<P> An amylase ( / ˈæmɪleɪs / ) is an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of starch into sugars . Amylase is present in the saliva of humans and some other mammals , where it begins the chemical process of digestion . Foods that contain large amounts of starch but little sugar , such as rice and potatoes , may acquire a slightly sweet taste as they are chewed because amylase degrades some of their starch into sugar . The pancreas and salivary gland make amylase ( alpha amylase ) to hydrolyse dietary starch into disaccharides and trisaccharides which are converted by other enzymes to glucose to supply the body with energy . Plants and some bacteria also produce amylase . As diastase , amylase was the first enzyme to be discovered and isolated ( by Anselme Payen in 1833 ) . Specific amylase proteins are designated by different Greek letters . All amylases are glycoside hydrolases and act on α - 1 , 4 - glycosidic bonds . </P>
<P> An amylase ( / ˈæmɪleɪs / ) is an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of starch into sugars . Amylase is present in the saliva of humans and some other mammals , where it begins the chemical process of digestion . Foods that contain large amounts of starch but little sugar , such as rice and potatoes , may acquire a slightly sweet taste as they are chewed because amylase degrades some of their starch into sugar . The pancreas and salivary gland make amylase ( alpha amylase ) to hydrolyse dietary starch into disaccharides and trisaccharides which are converted by other enzymes to glucose to supply the body with energy . Plants and some bacteria also produce amylase . As diastase , amylase was the first enzyme to be discovered and isolated ( by Anselme Payen in 1833 ) . Specific amylase proteins are designated by different Greek letters . All amylases are glycoside hydrolases and act on α - 1 , 4 - glycosidic bonds . </P>
3 places in the body where amylase is produced
3 places in the body where amylase is produced
pancreas salivary gland
pancreas salivary gland