Question

describe the chemistry of starch hydrolysis.
the smallest amylase product of starch is called....
what is the major purpose in performing a starch hydrolysis test.

Answer 1

Starch is a polysaccharide of glucose. Multiple glucose units are joined by glucosidic bonds. Hydrolysis is the breaking of bigger molecules into smaller ones by reacting with water. Enzymes have a great part in this. During starch hydrolysis, starch (a polysaccharide) is broken down into either monosaccharides, disaccharides or trisaccharides. It depends on the strength of enzymes involved. The major enzymes are

(i) alpha amylase (present in human saliva) produces maltose (a disaccharide) and maltotriose (a trisaccharide).

(ii) beta amylase (present in potatoes) produces maltose only.

The smallest amylase product is maltose (a disachharide) which is further broken down into glucose by enzyme maltase.

The major purpose in performing a starch hydrolysis test is to detect the property of organisms to produce amylase. In other words the test is performed to determine whether or not an organism secretes extracellular enzymes "alpha amylase" or "oligo-1,6-glucosidase" to hydrolyse starch.