Decomposition of sugars is called which term?

• A. Autolysis
• B. Fermentation
• C. Saccharolysis
• D. Proteolysis

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is how sugars are broken down. When sugars are decomposed, enzymatic cleavage of glycosidic bonds to yield simpler sugars—monosaccharides—is called saccharolysis. This term specifically captures the chemical breakdown of carbohydrates into their smaller sugar units, which is a common prerequisite for further metabolism like glycolysis.

This differs from fermentation, which is a metabolic process where sugars are converted into other compounds (like alcohol or lactic acid) under anaerobic conditions; it’s about the end products of metabolism rather than the initial breakdown step. Autolysis and proteolysis refer to the breakdown of cellular components and proteins, respectively, not sugars.