Maltose Hydrolysis: Understanding the Products
Maltose is a disaccharide formed by two units of D-glucose linked by an $\alpha(1 \to 4)$ glycosidic bond.
The hydrolysis of maltose involves breaking this glycosidic bond using water.
Chemical Reaction of Maltose Hydrolysis
The hydrolysis reaction can be represented as:
Maltose + H2O $ \xrightarrow{\text{Enzyme or Acid}} $ 2 D-Glucose
Specifically, the $\alpha(1 \to 4)$ glycosidic bond connecting the two glucose residues is cleaved.
Glucose Anomer Formation
- Upon hydrolysis, two molecules of D-glucose are produced.
- D-glucose exists in solution as an equilibrium mixture of its anomers: $\alpha$-D-Glucose and $\beta$-D-Glucose, along with a small amount of the open-chain form.
- The hydrolysis reaction yields these two D-glucose molecules, which then naturally exist in equilibrium.
- Therefore, the hydrolysis of maltose results in a mixture containing both $\alpha$-D-Glucose and $\beta$-D-Glucose.
This corresponds to option A.
Important Questions from Structure and Function of Biomolecules
- An element that is present in a nucleotide but not in a nucleoside is __________.
- Which one of the following coenzymes is utilised by alanine racemase for the conversion of L-Alanine to D-Alanine?
- Which of the following show(s) optical activity at 100 mM concentration in water?
An octapeptide composed of these L-amino acids – Lys, Thr, Ser, Met, Arg, Trp, Tyr, Glu was subjected to analyses with the following outcomes:
P. The N-terminal sequencing analysis by Sanger's method yielded 'Ser' at the N-terminus
Q. Chymotrypsin treatment gave a pentapeptide, a ‘Tyr' containing dipeptide and a free ‘Glu'
R. Cyanogen bromide treatment gave two tetrapeptides
S. Trypsin treatment gave two tripeptides and a dipeptide
Which one of the following is the correct octapeptide sequence?
- Which of the following amino acids contain(s) two chiral carbons?
