Alpha amylase is an enzyme that specifically hydrolyzes the alpha-1,4-glycosidic linkages in starch, glycogen, or other related carbohydrates. These linkages are found between glucose molecules in these polysaccharides. This hydrolysis reaction breaks down the polysaccharides into smaller units, such as maltose and dextrin, which can be further metabolized by the body.

The bond hydrolyzed by alpha amylase is an alpha-1,4-glycosidic bond, which is a type of covalent bond that links the first carbon (C1) of one sugar molecule to the fourth carbon (C4) of the next sugar molecule. This specific type of bond is found in the polysaccharides starch and glycogen, which are made up of long chains of glucose molecules linked by alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds.