Equation for the hydrolysis of alphamaltoseSolutionMaltose i

Equation for the hydrolysis of alpha-maltose

Solution

Maltose is a component of malt, a substance which is obtained in the process of allowing grain to soften in water and germinate. It is found in beverages, beer, cereal, pasta, potatoes and in many processed products which have been sweetened.

The production of maltose is based on the hydrolysis of starch, compound by glucose units (14) and (16) linked, meaning that the carbon number 1 is linked by a glycosidic bond to the carbon number 4 or 6 of the other glucose. The 14 linked starch part is called amylose and it is a linear polymer while the 14 and 16 linked part is the amylopectin, a branched chain polymer, being 16 the branching point linkages.

This kind of hydrolysis is catalyzed by enzymes called amylases, classified into -amylases and -amylases. In the human pancreas the digestion of starch is catalyzed by an -amylase, as the salivary enzyme. This enzyme can work with amylose or amylopectin, but only the interior (14) glucose linkages of the amylopectin molecules as the -amylase cannot hydrolyze the (16) branching points. The futility of hydrolyzing these linkages affects the amylase action: it is weaker near them.

The -amylases are found in plants, sweet potatoes, soybeans, barley and wheat and are also in bacteria. Theses amylases produce -maltose and -limit dextrins, as a result of the enzyme’s futility of hydrolyzing (16) branch linkages.

In humans, maltose is broken down by the enzyme maltase so that there are two glucose molecules from which the glucose metabolism obtains energy.

Maltose is the organic compound which is commonly known as malt sugar. It is a white crystalline solid, soluble in water with melting point 160°-165° C and it is dextrorotatory. When it is hydrolyzed with dilute acid it yields two molecules of D(+) glucose. It is a reducing sugar.

Maltose is a important component in the process of creating fermented barley which can be used to brew beer.

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + H₂O C₆H₁₂O₆ + C₆H₁₂O₆