Final answer:
Maltase is specific for its substrate maltose and unlikely to act on other substrates, catalyzing the breakdown of maltose into two glucose molecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The enzyme maltase is highly specific for its substrate, maltose. Maltase works by catalyzing the breakdown of maltose into two glucose molecules during carbohydrate digestion. The likelihood of maltase acting on a different substrate is low because enzymes are typically designed to fit their specific substrates almost like a lock and key. In the duodenum, other disaccharides like sucrose and lactose are hydrolyzed by their respective enzymes, sucrase and lactase. Sucrase breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose, while lactase breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose. These specific interactions suggest that maltase would not work on a substrate other than maltose.