maltose catabolic process

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the breakdown of the disaccharide maltose (4-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-D-glucopyranose). [GOC:jl, ISBN:0198506732]

Maltose catabolic process is the breakdown of maltose, a disaccharide composed of two glucose molecules linked by an α(1→4) glycosidic bond. This process is essential for energy production in various organisms, including bacteria, yeast, and humans. The breakdown of maltose occurs in two main steps:

1. **Hydrolysis by maltase:** Maltase, an enzyme found in the small intestine of humans and in other organisms, cleaves the α(1→4) glycosidic bond in maltose, releasing two glucose molecules. The reaction is catalyzed by the addition of a water molecule.

2. **Glucose metabolism:** The resulting glucose molecules can then enter various metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, to produce energy in the form of ATP.

**Here's a detailed breakdown of the steps involved in maltose catabolism:**

* **Step 1: Maltose transport:** Maltose is transported across the cell membrane into the cytoplasm. This is often facilitated by specific maltose transporter proteins.

* **Step 2: Maltose hydrolysis:** Maltose is hydrolyzed into two glucose molecules by the enzyme maltase. This reaction occurs in the intestinal lumen in humans and in the cytoplasm of other organisms.

* **Step 3: Glucose uptake:** The glucose molecules produced from maltose hydrolysis are transported across the cell membrane into the cytoplasm.

* **Step 4: Glucose metabolism:** The glucose molecules enter the glycolytic pathway, which converts glucose into pyruvate. Pyruvate then enters the citric acid cycle, which generates ATP and reducing equivalents (NADH and FADH2). These reducing equivalents are used in the electron transport chain to generate further ATP.

**In summary, maltose catabolism is a crucial process for energy production in many organisms. It involves the hydrolysis of maltose into glucose molecules, which are then metabolized to generate ATP.**'
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Proteins (1)

Compounds (42)