Where Do Disaccharidases Work?

Disaccharidases are glycoside hydrolase enzymes found in the intestinal brush border that are responsible for the breakdown of disaccharides into monosaccharides.

Where are Disaccharidases found?

Disaccharidases are located in the brush-border membrane of mature enterocytes of the small intestine, and their activities are the greatest in the proximal and mid-jejunum. The two main disaccharidases found in humans are β-galactosidase (lactase) and α-glucosidases (sucrase, isomaltase, and glucoamylase).

Where do disaccharides work?

In your body, a disaccharide function is to provide your body with a quick source of energy. Because they're only made up of two sugar molecules, they're easily broken down by enzymes in your digestive system into their respective monosaccharides and then absorbed into your bloodstream.