Disaccharide

Definition

A disaccharide is a carbohydrate composed of two monosaccharides joined together by a glycosidic bond. They are important in microbial metabolism and energy storage.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Common examples of disaccharides include sucrose, lactose, and maltose.
2. Disaccharides are broken down into monosaccharides by enzymes such as sucrase, lactase, and maltase.
3. They play a crucial role in the microbial fermentation process.
4. Disaccharides can be hydrolyzed into their component sugars under acidic conditions or by specific enzymes.
5. The glycosidic bond in disaccharides can be either alpha or beta, affecting their digestibility and function.

Review Questions

• What are the common examples of disaccharides?
• Which enzymes are responsible for breaking down disaccharides into monosaccharides?
• How does the type of glycosidic bond affect a disaccharide’s properties?

Related terms

Monosaccharide: The simplest form of carbohydrates that cannot be hydrolyzed to simpler sugars.

Polysaccharide: A complex carbohydrate composed of long chains of monosaccharide units bound together.

Glycosidic Bond:

A type of covalent bond that joins a carbohydrate molecule to another group, which could be another carbohydrate.