Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide.

Study with the DAT Bootcamp Molecules and Fundamentals of Biology test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations to prepare effectively.

Multiple Choice

Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide.

Explanation:
Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide in plants, built from long, straight chains of glucose linked by beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds. Those beta linkages cause the chains to lie flat and pack together, forming strong hydrogen-bonded fibers known as microfibrils that give plant cell walls their rigidity and support. This structural role contrasts with storage polysaccharides like starch and glycogen, which are made with alpha linkages that create branched, compact molecules optimized for energy storage. Lipids and proteins are not polysaccharides at all, so cellulose isn’t a lipid or a protein. Because of its beta-linkages, cellulose is not easily digested by humans, reinforcing its job as a durable structural material rather than an energy source. Therefore, cellulose is a structural polysaccharide.

Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide in plants, built from long, straight chains of glucose linked by beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds. Those beta linkages cause the chains to lie flat and pack together, forming strong hydrogen-bonded fibers known as microfibrils that give plant cell walls their rigidity and support. This structural role contrasts with storage polysaccharides like starch and glycogen, which are made with alpha linkages that create branched, compact molecules optimized for energy storage. Lipids and proteins are not polysaccharides at all, so cellulose isn’t a lipid or a protein. Because of its beta-linkages, cellulose is not easily digested by humans, reinforcing its job as a durable structural material rather than an energy source. Therefore, cellulose is a structural polysaccharide.

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