α-Glucosidase

Alpha glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20), also known as alpha glucosidase or glucosyltransferase (GTase), is an alpha-D-glucosidase enzyme. It can cleave the alpha-1,4 glycosidic bond from the non reducing end of oligosaccharides substrate to release glucose, or transfer the free glucose residue to another carbohydrate substrate to form only alpha-1,6 glycosidic bond, thereby obtaining non fermentable oligosaccharides. Alpha glucosidase has a wide range of sources and plays important physiological functions in the degradation of human glycogen and carbohydrate metabolism in animals, plants, and microorganisms.Definition of enzyme activityThe amount of enzyme required to produce 1 μ g of glucose per hour is defined as one unit of alpha glucosyltransferase activity.