<h2 data-type="title">Hydrolysis</h2>
<p>Polymers are broken down into monomers in a process known as <strong>hydrolysis</strong>, which means <em>to split water</em>. Basically, hydrolysis is a reaction in which a water molecule is used during the breakdown (<a href="#attachment_95300">see image below</a>). During these reactions, the polymer is broken into two components. One part gains a hydrogen atom (H<sup>+</sup>) and the other gains a hydroxyl molecule (OH<sup>–</sup>) from a split water molecule.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_95300" style="width: 800px"><a href="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/58a75f47-2af3-4d51-8576-c8d442069b01"><img alt="hydrolysis" class="size-full wp-image-95300" height="184" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/58a75f47-2af3-4d51-8576-c8d442069b01" width="800"/></a><p class="wp-caption-text">In the hydrolysis reaction shown here, the disaccharide maltose is broken down to form two glucose monomers with the addition of a water molecule. Note that this reaction is the reverse of the synthesis reaction above. Image Attribution: OpenStax Biology</p></div>
<p>Dehydration and <strong>hydrolysis reactions</strong> are catalyzed, or “sped up,” by specific enzymes. Dehydration reactions involve the formation of new bonds, requiring energy, while hydrolysis reactions break <a data-lesson="hydrogen-bonds-and-van-der-waals-interactions" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="chemical-foundation-of-life" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/chemical-foundation-of-life/hydrogen-bonds-and-van-der-waals-interactions">bonds</a> and release energy. These reactions are similar for most macromolecules. However, each monomer and polymer reaction is specific for its class.</p>
<p>For example, in our bodies, <a data-lesson="ingestion" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="digestive-system" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/digestive-system/ingestion">food</a> is hydrolyzed, or broken down, into smaller molecules by catalytic <a data-lesson="enzymes-2" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="biology-foundations" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/biology-foundations/enzymes-2">enzymes</a> in the digestive system. In fact, this allows for easy absorption of nutrients by cells in the intestine. Each macromolecule is broken down by a specific enzyme. For instance, <a data-lesson="carbohydrates" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="biology-foundations" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/biology-foundations/carbohydrates">carbohydrates</a> are broken down by amylase, sucrase, lactase, or maltase. Human saliva is rich in amylase.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_95301" style="width: 800px"><a href="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/f7ad67cd-1232-4ef1-a745-103d106919d5"><img alt="hydrolysis-starch-derivative" class="size-full wp-image-95301" height="532" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/f7ad67cd-1232-4ef1-a745-103d106919d5" width="800"/></a><p class="wp-caption-text">This image shows a laboratory experiment involving the hydrolysis of starch derivatives. Image Attribution: "<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CSIRO_ScienceImage_3296_Hydrolysis.jpg">Hydrolysis</a>," by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) via Wikimedia Commons (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en">CC BY 3.0</a>)</p></div>
<p>Similarly, <a data-lesson="proteins-2" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="biology-foundations" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/biology-foundations/proteins-2">proteins</a> are broken down by the enzymes pepsin and peptidase, and by hydrochloric acid. Lipids are broken down by lipases. As a matter of fact, breakdown of these <a data-lesson="introducing-biological-macromolecules" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="biological-macromolecules" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/biological-macromolecules/introducing-biological-macromolecules">macromolecules</a> provides <a data-lesson="biology-203-glossary-9" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="cell-metabolism" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/cell-metabolism/biology-203-glossary-9">energy</a> for cellular activities.</p>
<h2>Video Summarizing Hydrolysis and Dehydration Synthesis</h2>
<p>The video below by <a href="http://ricochetscience.com">Ricochet Science</a> is a quick and easy overview of hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis.</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZMTeqZLXBSo?rel=0&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;cc_lang_pref=en&amp;cc_load_policy=1" width="640"></iframe></p>

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Hydrolysis of Biological Macromolecules

Biology studies life and living organisms. Biology can be divided into different sections that cover the morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, and so on of living organisms.

Biology

Discover the different types and functions of biological macromolecules including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, and explore their structures and synthesis through lessons on hydrolysis, disaccharides, protein structures, and DNA double-helix.


Hydrolysis of Biological Macromolecules

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