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Maltose

Topic: Chemistry

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 7 min

Maltose (/ˈmɔːltoʊs/[1] or /ˈmɔːltoʊz/[2]), also known as maltobiose or malt sugar, is a disaccharide formed from two units of glucose joined with an α(1→4) bond. In the isomer isomaltose, the two glucose molecules are joined with an α(1→6) bond. Maltose is the two-unit member of the amylose homologous series, the key structural motif of starch. When beta-amylase breaks down starch, it removes two glucose units at a time, producing maltose. An example of this reaction is found in germinating seeds, which is why it was named after malt.[3] Unlike sucrose, it is a reducing sugar.[4]

History

Maltose was discovered by Augustin-Pierre Dubrunfaut, although this discovery was not widely accepted until it was confirmed in 1872 by Irish chemist and brewer Cornelius O'Sullivan.[4][5] Its name comes from malt, combined with the suffix '-ose' which is used in names of sugars.[3]

Structure and nomenclature

Carbohydrates are generally divided into monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides depending on the number of sugar subunits. Maltose, with two sugar units, is a disaccharide, which falls under oligosaccharides. Glucose is a hexose: a monosaccharide containing six carbon atoms. The two glucose units are in the pyranose form and are joined by an O-glycosidic bond, with the first carbon (C1) of the first glucose linked to the fourth carbon (C4) of the second glucose, indicated as (1→4). The link is characterized as α because the glycosidic bond to the anomeric carbon (C1) is in the opposite plane from the CH2OH substituent in the same ring (C6 of the first glucose). If the glycosidic bond to the anomeric carbon (C1) were in the same plane as the CH2OH substituent, it would be classified as a β(1→4) bond, and the resulting molecule would be cellobiose. The anomeric carbon (C1) of the second glucose molecule, which is not involved in a glycosidic bond, could be either an α- or β-anomer depending on the bond direction of the attached hydroxyl group relative to the CH2OH substituent of the same ring, resulting in either α-maltose or β-maltose.

Properties

Maltose in aqueous solution exhibits mutarotation, because the α and β isomers that are formed by the different conformations of the anomeric carbon have different specific rotations, and in aqueous solutions, these two forms are in equilibrium. Maltose can easily be detected by the Woehlk test or Fearon's test on methylamine.[6]

It has a sweet taste, but is only about 30–60% as sweet as sugar, depending on the concentration.[7] A 10% solution of maltose is 35% as sweet as a 10% solution of sucrose.[8]

Sources and absorption

Maltose syrup

Maltose is a malt component, a substance obtained when the grain is softened in water and germinates. It is also present in highly variable quantities in partially hydrolyzed starch products like maltodextrin, corn syrup and acid-thinned starch.[9]

Outside of plants, maltose is also (likely) found in honey.[10]

In humans, maltose is broken down by various maltase enzymes, providing two glucose molecules that can be further processed: either broken down to provide energy, or stored as glycogen. The lack of the sucrase-isomaltase enzyme in humans causes sucrose intolerance, but complete maltose intolerance is extremely rare because there are four different maltase enzymes.[11]

Culinary uses

Maltose syrup is a key ingredient for char siu, a Cantonese-style barbecued pork, and is also used in other roasted meat marinades.[12] In 1960s Hong Kong, maltose syrup sandwiched between two saltine cracker was a common street food due to its simplicity and low cost.[13] In the present day, it is considered a nostalgic food and is mostly found at traditional food stalls in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Dictionary Reference: maltose
  2. ↑ Cambridge dictionary: maltose
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Stoker, H. Stephen (2015-01-02) (in en). Organic and Biological Chemistry. Cengage Learning. ISBN 9781305686458. https://books.google.com/books?id=HRCdBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA278. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fruton, Joseph S (1999) (in en). Proteins, Enzymes, Genes: The Interplay of Chemistry and Biology. Chelsea, Michigan: Yale University Press. p. 144. ISBN 0300153597. https://books.google.com/books?id=X6skaZlZNdsC&pg=PA144. Retrieved 21 October 2017. 
  5. ↑ O'Sullivan, Cornelius (1872). "XXI.?On the transformation-products of starch". Journal of the Chemical Society 25: 579–588. doi:10.1039/JS8722500579. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/1872/JS/js8722500579. Retrieved 11 December 2014. 
  6. ↑ 150 Years Alfred Wöhlk :: Education. 6 March 2018. doi:10.1002/chemv.201800002. http://www.chemistryviews.org/details/education/10821368/150_Years_Alfred_wohlk.html. 
  7. ↑ Belitz, H.-D.; Grosch, Werner; Schieberle, Peter (2009-01-15) (in en). Food Chemistry. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 863. ISBN 9783540699330. https://books.google.com/books?id=xteiARU46SQC&pg=PA863. 
  8. ↑ Spillane, W. J. (2006-07-17) (in en). Optimising Sweet Taste in Foods. Woodhead Publishing. pp. 271. ISBN 9781845691646. https://books.google.com/books?id=db5QAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA271. 
  9. ↑ Furia, Thomas E. (1973-01-02) (in en). CRC Handbook of Food Additives, Second Edition. CRC Press. ISBN 9780849305429. https://books.google.com/books?id=XcSp015g4X0C&pg=PA45. 
  10. ↑ Heard, Tim (2015-10-30) (in en). The Australian Native Bee Book. Sugarbag Bees. ISBN 9780646939971. 
  11. ↑ Whelan, W. J.; Cameron, Margaret P. (2009-09-16) (in en). Control of Glycogen Metabolism. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 60. ISBN 9780470716885. https://books.google.com/books?id=whILjP8XUS4C&pg=PA60. 
  12. ↑ "Restaurant Secrets: How To Order Char Siu Like An Expert". 2020-10-01. https://guide.michelin.com/hk/en/article/dining-out/cantonese-bbq-pork-char-siu. 
  13. ↑ "香港传统小吃DIY__庆祝香港回归祖国15周年". 2012-06-14. http://hk15.locpg.gov.cn/2012-06/14/c_123283842_4.htm. 
  14. ↑ "時代廣場小食週末限定 $20掃3款懷舊木頭車美食" (in zh-hk). http://sina.com.hk/news/article/20160429/0/7/46/%E6%99%82%E4%BB%A3%E5%BB%A3%E5%A0%B4%E5%B0%8F%E9%A3%9F%E9%80%B1%E6%9C%AB%E9%99%90%E5%AE%9A-20%E6%8E%833%E6%AC%BE%E6%87%B7%E8%88%8A%E6%9C%A8%E9%A0%AD%E8%BB%8A%E7%BE%8E%E9%A3%9F-5752842.html. 
  • Maltose, Elmhurst College Virtual Chembook.



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