The digestion of starch by amylase results in the production of which of the following?

• A. Sucrose
• B. Maltose
• C. Glucose-6-phosphate
• D. Cellulose

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of amylase: Amylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch, a polysaccharide, into smaller carbohydrate molecules. It specifically breaks the α-1,4 glycosidic bonds in starch.
2. Recognize the structure of starch: Starch is composed of amylose and amylopectin, which are polymers of glucose. Amylose is linear, while amylopectin is branched.
3. Identify the products of starch digestion: Amylase breaks starch into disaccharides and smaller oligosaccharides. The primary disaccharide produced is maltose, which consists of two glucose molecules linked by an α-1,4 glycosidic bond.
4. Eliminate incorrect options: Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose, not a product of starch digestion. Glucose-6-phosphate is a phosphorylated glucose molecule involved in glycolysis, not directly produced by amylase activity. Cellulose is a polysaccharide found in plant cell walls and is not digested by amylase.
5. Conclude that the correct answer is maltose, as it is the primary disaccharide produced during the enzymatic digestion of starch by amylase.