What do carbohydrases break carbohydrates down into?

Carbohydrases are enzymes specifically designed to catalyze the breakdown of carbohydrates into simpler components. The primary function of carbohydrases is to hydrolyze complex carbohydrates (like starch or glycogen) into smaller units, ultimately leading to simple sugars such as glucose and fructose.

This process is crucial in digestion; when foods containing carbohydrates are consumed, carbohydrases help convert these larger carbohydrate molecules into the simple sugars that the body can readily absorb and use as a source of energy. Thus, the correct answer reflects this fundamental biological process, emphasizing how carbohydrases specifically target carbohydrates to produce simple sugars essential for metabolic functions.