Pancreatic amylase is highly efficient at breaking down amylose and amylopectin, but it cannot cleave which specific bond type found in branched starches?
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Correct answer: Alpha-1,6-glycosidic bonds
Pancreatic amylase is an endosaccharidase that only targets internal alpha-1,4 bonds. The alpha-1,6 bonds at the branch points of amylopectin remain intact, resulting in the formation of 'limit dextrins' that must be further digested by brush border enzymes.
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