Studies on enzyme action. VII.—The synthetic action of acids contrasted with that of enzymes. Synthesis of maltose and isomaltose

Abstract

The belief has grown up of late years that the enzymes which are capable of inducing the hydrolysis of disaccharides or bioses act reversibly; as yet, however, but little has been done to define the theory of the process and no understanding has been arrived at as to the limitations to which such changes are subject. The same is true of the action of acids, which also act reversibly under certain conditions. Croft Hill, whose observations gave rise to the conception of reversible enzyme action, at first thought that maltose alone was produced by the action of the enzyme maltase on glucose. Emmerling, who respected Croft Hill’s experiments, came to the conclusion that the product was isomaltose, the biose which E. Fischer obtained by subjecting glucose to the action of concentrated chlorhydric acid. In a later communication, while still claiming that maltose is formed in small quantity, Croft Hill has admitted that the chief product is an isomeride of maltose; but he regards this as different from isomaltose and therefore terms it revertose.