Question

carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in the presence of water and the appropriate enzymes are broken down into less complex molecules by a chemical process called

a. hydrolysis
b. deamination
c. dehydrolysis
d. dehydration synthesis

Explanation:

• Hydrolysis: Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction where water is used to break down a compound. In the context of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, hydrolysis reactions (catalyzed by enzymes) break these macromolecules into smaller subunits (e.g., monosaccharides from carbohydrates, fatty acids and glycerol from lipids, amino acids from proteins).
• Deamination: Deamination is the removal of an amino group from a molecule, typically occurs in the metabolism of amino acids and is not related to the general breakdown of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins into simpler molecules as described in the question.
• Dehydrolysis: This is not a standard biochemical term.
• Dehydration synthesis: Dehydration synthesis is the opposite of hydrolysis. It is a reaction where two molecules are joined together with the loss of a water molecule (e.g., forming a glycosidic bond between two monosaccharides to make a disaccharide).

Answer:

a. Hydrolysis