Maltose

Maltose is a disaccharide composed of two glucose molecules linked together. Maltose is an endogenous metabolic product in plants, yeast, or bacteria, and it participates in carbon source storage and metabolism. Maltose is a key core metabolite and main transport form in the temporary starch degradation, carbon output, and subsequent sucrose synthesis metabolism of the night chloroplast. In X. dendrorhous, maltose can act as a sugar donor and is converted into isomaltulose by α-glucosidase (α-Glucosidase). Maltose can act as a osmotic agent, supporting continuous capillary ultrafiltration and preventing severe metabolic disorders^[1][2][3]. In Vitro:Maltose can be used as a peritoneal dialysis osmotic agent. When administered intraperitoneally, it can benefit from the low enzyme activity environment within the peritoneal cavity, resulting in slow absorption and metabolism, thereby preventing a sudden increase in blood sugar^[1].
Maltose can be efficiently converted into isomalt oligosaccharides characterized by trisaccharides, tetrasaccharides and α-(1→6) bonds under the catalysis of α-glucosidase in X. dendrorhous. These products possess potential prebiotic properties (not degraded by the upper digestive tract and can be fermented by beneficial bacteria in the colon)^[2].
Maltose is the dominant product of carbon output by chloroplasts during the night, and maltose and glucose together account for 85% of the total carbon metabolites output by chloroplasts^[3].