FPGEE for National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Practice Exam

How many molecules of glucose are released when maltose is degraded?

1. One molecule

2. Two molecules

3. Three molecules

4. Four molecules

The correct answer is: Two molecules

When maltose is degraded, it is hydrolyzed into its constituent monosaccharides. Maltose is a disaccharide composed of two glucose molecules linked together by a glycosidic bond. During the process of degradation, typically facilitated by the enzyme maltase, the bond between the two glucose units is broken. This hydrolysis reaction results in the release of two individual glucose molecules. Understanding this biochemical process is crucial, particularly in the context of carbohydrate metabolism, where disaccharides like maltose are broken down into simpler sugars to be used by the body for energy. Therefore, the correct answer reflects that two molecules of glucose are released when maltose is degraded.