Digestive enzymes belong to which class of enzymes?

Digestive enzymes are classified as hydrolases because they function by catalyzing the hydrolysis of various bonds within the macromolecules in food. This process involves the addition of water to break down complex molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into their simpler components—sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids, respectively.

Hydrolases are specifically responsible for reactions that involve the cleavage of chemical bonds through the addition of water, making them essential for digestion. For example, proteases break down proteins into peptides and amino acids, lipases decompose fats into fatty acids and glycerol, and amylases convert starch into sugars.

Other classes of enzymes mentioned do not fit the function of digestive enzymes. Oxidoreductases are involved in oxidation-reduction reactions, transferases transfer functional groups between molecules, and ligases join two molecules together, often with the expenditure of energy. Thus, the role of digestive enzymes as hydrolases is integral to the digestive process, making this classification appropriate and accurate.