List three major pancreatic enzymes and their substrates.

• A. Pancreatic lactase (lactose); nucleases; maltase.
• B. Pancreatic amylase (starch); pancreatic lipase (triglycerides); pancreatic proteases such as trypsin and chymotrypsin (proteins).
• C. Pancreatic sucrase (sucrose); amylase; lipase.
• D. Pancreatic amylase digests fats; lipase digests proteins.

Answer: (B)

Pancreatic enzymes are specialized proteins released into the small intestine to digest the three main macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The major carbohydrate-digesting enzyme is pancreatic amylase, which acts on starch to produce maltose and other small glucose-containing products. For fats, pancreatic lipase targets triglycerides, breaking them down into free fatty acids and monoglycerides (often with help from bile salts and colipase). For proteins, pancreatic proteases such as trypsin and chymotrypsin break proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids. These enzymes are secreted as inactive precursors and activated in the intestinal lumen, ensuring focused digestion in the gut.