Sucrase
Sucrase
Sucrase (pronounced soo-krays) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose to fructose and glucose. It is a type of glycoside hydrolase that is present in the brush border of the small intestine.
Etymology
The term "sucrase" is derived from the word "sucrose" and the suffix "-ase", which is used in biochemistry to form names of enzymes. The word "sucrose" comes from the French "sucre" (sugar) and the chemical suffix "-ose", which is used in the names of sugars.
Function
Sucrase breaks down the complex sugar sucrose into its component parts, glucose and fructose. This process is essential for the absorption of dietary sugars in the small intestine. The glucose and fructose molecules can then be absorbed into the bloodstream and used by the body for energy.
Related Terms
- Enzyme: A protein that catalyzes a specific biochemical reaction.
- Hydrolysis: The chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water.
- Glucose: A simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates.
- Fructose: A simple ketonic monosaccharide found in many plants, where it is often bonded to glucose to form the disaccharide sucrose.
- Glycoside hydrolase: An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in complex sugars.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sucrase
- Wikipedia's article - Sucrase
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski