5. Cellulose, starch and glycogen are polysaccharides with different properties due to their type of A. bonding (glycosidic bond) B. functions C. side chains D. monosaccharide subunits
Answer (1)
Cellulose, starch, and glycogen are polysaccharides, which means they are large molecules made up of many monosaccharide (simple sugar) units bonded together. These polysaccharides play critical roles in biological systems, especially in the storage and structural support of energy in plants and animals.
The different properties of these polysaccharides arise primarily due to their type of bonding (glycosidic bond) , which is the correct answer to the question.
Cellulose is a polysaccharide that provides structural support to plant cell walls. It is composed of glucose molecules linked together by β(1→4) glycosidic bonds. These bonds create a linear and rigid structure, allowing for the formation of strong fibers that plant cell walls need.
Starch is a storage polysaccharide found in plants. It consists of two types of molecules: amylose and amylopectin. Amylose is primarily linked by α(1→4) glycosidic bonds and forms a helical structure, while amylopectin is branched with both α(1→4) and α(1→6) bonds. This branched structure allows starch to be more easily broken down by enzymes for energy.
Glycogen is the storage polysaccharide in animals, particularly in liver and muscle cells. Similar to amylopectin in starch, glycogen has a highly branched structure with α(1→4) and α(1→6) glycosidic bonds, although it is more extensively branched. This structure enables rapid release of glucose when energy is needed quickly by the body.
In summary, while the monosaccharide subunits (glucose) are the same for all three polysaccharides, the different types and arrangements of glycosidic bonds lead to significant differences in their properties and functions.
