<P> Many polyamide polymers such as nylon 6, 6 hydrolyse in the presence of strong acids . The process leads to depolymerization . For this reason nylon products fail by fracturing when exposed to small amounts of acidic water . Polyesters are also susceptible to similar polymer degradation reactions . The problem is known as environmental stress cracking . </P> <P> Hydrolysis is related to energy metabolism and storage . All living cells require a continual supply of energy for two main purposes: the biosynthesis of micro and macromolecules, and the active transport of ions and molecules across cell membranes . The energy derived from the oxidation of nutrients is not used directly but, by means of a complex and long sequence of reactions, it is channelled into a special energy - storage molecule, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The ATP molecule contains pyrophosphate linkages (bonds formed when two phosphate units are combined together) that release energy when needed . ATP can undergo hydrolysis in two ways: the removal of terminal phosphate to form adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate, or the removal of a terminal diphosphate to yield adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and pyrophosphate . The latter usually undergoes further cleavage into its two constituent phosphates . This results in biosynthesis reactions, which usually occur in chains, that can be driven in the direction of synthesis when the phosphate bonds have undergone hydrolysis . </P> <P> Monosaccharides can be linked together by glycosidic bonds, which can be cleaved by hydrolysis . Two, three, several or many monosaccharides thus linked form disaccharides, trisaccharides, oligosaccharides or polysaccharides, respectively . Enzymes that hydrolyse glycosidic bonds are called "glycoside hydrolases" or "glycosidases". </P> <P> The best - known disaccharide is sucrose (table sugar). Hydrolysis of sucrose yields glucose and fructose . Invertase is a sucrase used industrially for the hydrolysis of sucrose to so - called invert sugar . Lactase is essential for digestive hydrolysis of lactose in milk; many adult humans do not produce lactase and cannot digest the lactose in milk (not a disorder). </P>

Where does hydrolysis take place in the body