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How does maltase break maltose into glucose molecules?

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A biochemical flowchart shows the metabolic pathways for carbohydrate utilization, including glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. The diagram traces the conversion of glucose, fructose, and glycerol through various intermediates, leading to energy production, carbon dioxide release, and biosynthesis of amino acids and porphyrins. Key steps and branches are labeled, with colored boxes highlighting biosynthetic outputs. — Carbohydrate Pathways for the utilization of carbohydrates.

Maltase facilitates the breakdown of maltose into two glucose molecules through a chemical process known as hydrolysis.12

Maltose is a disaccharide consisting of two glucose units linked by a glycosidic bond. During digestion, maltase—an enzyme secreted by the mucous membrane of the small intestine—catalyzes the reaction that breaks this bond. By adding a water molecule across the glycosidic linkage, the enzyme effectively splits the disaccharide into its constituent monosaccharides, allowing the resulting glucose to be absorbed into the bloodstream for use as energy.21