When amylase digests starch, which disaccharide is produced?

When amylase digests starch, which disaccharide is produced?

• A. Maltose
• B. Sucrose
• C. Lactose
• D. Galactose

Answer: (A)

Amylase works by breaking the alpha-1,4 glycosidic bonds in starch, shortening the long glucose chains into smaller units. The disaccharide formed directly by this enzymatic action is maltose, which is two glucose molecules linked together. As digestion proceeds, maltose can then be further broken down into glucose by the brush-border enzyme maltase for absorption. The other options don’t fit because they are either different disaccharides or a monosaccharide: sucrose is glucose linked to fructose, lactose is glucose linked to galactose, and galactose is a single sugar unit, not a disaccharide.

Amylase works by breaking the alpha-1,4 glycosidic bonds in starch, shortening the long glucose chains into smaller units. The disaccharide formed directly by this enzymatic action is maltose, which is two glucose molecules linked together. As digestion proceeds, maltose can then be further broken down into glucose by the brush-border enzyme maltase for absorption.

The other options don’t fit because they are either different disaccharides or a monosaccharide: sucrose is glucose linked to fructose, lactose is glucose linked to galactose, and galactose is a single sugar unit, not a disaccharide.