Where are maltase, sucrase, and lactase produced?

Where are maltase, sucrase, and lactase produced?

• A. Stomach
• B. Small intestine
• C. Pancreas
• D. Liver

Answer: (B)

Disaccharidases maltase, sucrase, and lactase are produced by the cells lining the small intestine, specifically the enterocytes on the brush border. These enzymes are anchored to the microvilli of the intestinal lining and perform the final step of carbohydrate digestion right where absorption occurs: they split disaccharides into their monosaccharide units (lactose into glucose and galactose; sucrose into glucose and fructose; maltose into two glucose molecules). The small intestine is where chyme mixes with these enzymes, enabling efficient nutrient absorption. The stomach isn’t a site of production for these enzymes; it mainly secretes acid and pepsin. The pancreas secretes enzymes into the small intestine (like pancreatic amylase, lipase, and proteases), but the specific disaccharidases in question are not produced there; they are produced by the intestinal lining itself. The liver’s role is primarily bile production for fat digestion, not disaccharidase production.

Disaccharidases maltase, sucrase, and lactase are produced by the cells lining the small intestine, specifically the enterocytes on the brush border. These enzymes are anchored to the microvilli of the intestinal lining and perform the final step of carbohydrate digestion right where absorption occurs: they split disaccharides into their monosaccharide units (lactose into glucose and galactose; sucrose into glucose and fructose; maltose into two glucose molecules). The small intestine is where chyme mixes with these enzymes, enabling efficient nutrient absorption.

The stomach isn’t a site of production for these enzymes; it mainly secretes acid and pepsin. The pancreas secretes enzymes into the small intestine (like pancreatic amylase, lipase, and proteases), but the specific disaccharidases in question are not produced there; they are produced by the intestinal lining itself. The liver’s role is primarily bile production for fat digestion, not disaccharidase production.