Which enzymes are involved in digesting disaccharides such as maltose, sucrose, and lactose?

Which enzymes are involved in digesting disaccharides such as maltose, sucrose, and lactose?

• A. Amylase
• B. Maltase, Sucrase, and Lactase
• C. Protease
• D. Lipase

Answer: (B)

Disaccharide digestion relies on specific enzymes located on the brush border of the small intestine that split disaccharides into absorbable monosaccharides. The enzymes for maltose, sucrose, and lactose are maltase, sucrase, and lactase, respectively. Maltase breaks maltose into two glucose molecules. Sucrase breaks sucrose into glucose and fructose. Lactase breaks lactose into glucose and galactose. These reactions are essential because disaccharides are too large to be absorbed intact. Other enzymes have different roles: amylase targets starch, proteases target proteins, and lipases target fats.

Disaccharide digestion relies on specific enzymes located on the brush border of the small intestine that split disaccharides into absorbable monosaccharides. The enzymes for maltose, sucrose, and lactose are maltase, sucrase, and lactase, respectively. Maltase breaks maltose into two glucose molecules. Sucrase breaks sucrose into glucose and fructose. Lactase breaks lactose into glucose and galactose. These reactions are essential because disaccharides are too large to be absorbed intact. Other enzymes have different roles: amylase targets starch, proteases target proteins, and lipases target fats.