amylolytic
- adjective
- /ˌæmɪloʊˈlɪtɪk/
- Specialized
- The amylolytic enzymes in saliva help digest starch.
Examples
-
The amylolytic enzymes in saliva are essential for digesting starchy foods.
-
The amylolytic activity of the solution was measured to determine the rate of starch decomposition.
-
Certain bacteria possess amylolytic enzymes that break down starch in the digestive tract.
-
Researchers are studying amylolytic processes to improve industrial fermentation methods.
-
An amylolytic reaction occurs when starch is broken down.
-
Certain bacteria possess amylolytic enzymes that break down starch into sugars in the digestive tract.
-
Researchers are investigating amylolytic reactions to enhance glucose production from starch.
Surface Forms
Morphology
amylolytic = amylo- (semi-transparent) = amylo + lytic
The word is a regular scientific formation (amylo- + -lytic) but both elements are specialised combining forms unfamiliar to average learners, so the relation is clear linguistically but not fully transparent to B1 learners.
Etymology
Amylolytic comes from the parts amyl- meaning 'starch' and -lytic meaning 'to break down'. So amylolytic describes something that breaks 'starch' into sugars, often an enzyme.