THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM OF
VERTEBRATES
TOPIC: Digestion by endogenous
enzymes,
& absorption of end products

Figure 8.1. Haworth projections of
cellulose, xylan, pectin (Van
Soest 1982), and chitin (Fruton
&
Simmonds 1958). The linkage in pectic acid is
alpha-1,4.
Haworth formulae are misleading in that xylan and pectin appear to have
a conformation similar to cellulose, while they actually differ.
Pectin, like starch, cannot exist in a linear conformation and must
form kinks or coils. However, the axial position of carbon 4 in
galacturonic acid results in a different configuration, as compared to
starch. (From CD
Chapter 8)
Table 8.1. (From CD
Chapter 8)

(From Stevens
& Hume 1995)
Table 8.2. (From CD
Chapter 8)

(From Stevens
& Hume 1995)
Table 8.3. (From CD
Chapter 8)

(From Stevens
& Hume 1995)
Table 8.4. Digestion of the
principal dietary carbohydrates by the endogenous enzymes of
vertebrates (Modified from Stevens
& Hume 1995.) (From CD
Chapter 8)


Figure 8.2. The structure of starch. Hydrolysis
catalyzed
by pancreatic amylase occurs at the alpha-1,4-linkage, and the products
of
hydrolysis are straight-chain oligosaccharides. Further
hydrolysis is catalyzed by the maltases and isomaltase of the brush
border of intestinal epithelial cells (Davenport 1982). (From CD
Chapter 8)
Table 8.5. (From CD
Chapter 8)

All data on adult specimens are
expressed in µmoles substrate/minute per gram (wet weight) of
mucosa. (modified from Vonk
& Western 1984)
Table 8.6a. (From CD
Chapter 8)

Enzymatic activity is designated as
+ (present), trace or 0 (absent). Results in brackets indicate use of
and alternate substrate. All data from adult specimens. * suckling
animals. (from Vonk &
Western 1984)
Table 8.6b. (From CD
Chapter 8)

Enzymatic
activity is designated as + (present), trace or 0 (absent). Results in
brackets indicate use of and alternate substrate. All data from adult
specimens. (from Vonk and
Western 1984, plus perissodactyla data from
Roberts 1975)
Table
8.7. Digestion of the principle dietary lipids by endogenous
enzymes of vertebrates (Modified from Stevens & Hume 1995.)
(From CD
Chapter 8)

Table
8.8. Digestion of proteins and nucleic acids by the endogenous
enzymes
of vertebrates (Modified from Stevens
& Hume 1995.) (From CD
Chapter 8)

Table 8.9. (From CD
Chapter 8)

Enzyme activities expressed as the
equivalent amount of bovine trypsin (casein or BAEE) or chymotrypsin
(BTEE) under the same conditions. a measurements of enzyme
activity in the pyloric cecal tissue may account for the lower values, b
frogs were fed, c frogs fasted at 5 C, * group C: 0-20 µg
RNase per gram of pancreatic tissue. (from Vonk & Western 1984)
Table 8.10. (From CD
Chapter 8)

Enzyme
activities expressed as the equivalent amount of bovine trypsin (casein
or BAEE) or chymotrypsin (BTEE) under the same conditions. *A:
200-1,200 g RNase per gram pancreatic tissue; B: 20-100 g per gram
pancreatic tissue; C: 0-20 µg RNase per gram pancreatic tissue. (from
Vonk & Western 1984)

Figure 8.3. Absorption of
monosaccharides, amino acids, and B-vitamins (Stevens 2001.) (From CD
Chapter 8)

Figure 8.4. Relative rates of sugar and amino acid
absorption in
carnivorous, omnivorous, and herbivorous vertebrates on either their
natural diet or one of similar nutrient composition. The ordinate
is the ratio of the uptake capacity for D-glucose/ L-proline for the
midgut or total intestine. Ratios appeared to be independent of
body weight; therefore horizontal lines depict average values.
Note that this ratio is highest for herbivores and lowest for
carnivores in all classes. Glucose uptake showed a greater
variation (herbivores > omnivores > carnivores) than proline.
(From Karasov & Diamond 1988.)
(From CD
Chapter 8)
Table 8.11. (From CD
Chapter 8)

0, no absorption or transfer; + to
+++, degrees of absorption or transfer. (from Brambell 1970)
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