Question

What structural features do cellulose and glycogen share, and in what ways do they differ?

a) Both are polymers of monosaccharides, but glycogen is a polymer of D-glucose, whereas cellulose is a polymer of D-fructose.
b) Both are polymers, but glycogen is a polymer of amylose, whereas cellulose is a polymer of D-glucose.
c) Both are polymers of D-glucose, but cellulose is connected by (814) glycosidic linkages, whereas glycogen is connected by (al-4) glycosidic linkages.
d) Both are polymers of D-glucose, but cellulose is a branched polymer, whereas glycogen is a linear polymer.

Answer 1

Both cellulose and glycogen are polymers of D-glucose, with cellulose connected by β-1,4-glycosidic linkages forming a rigid, linear structure, and glycogen featuring α-1,4-glycosidic and α-1,6-glycosidic linkages, resulting in a highly branched structure for energy storage.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cellulose and glycogen both share the structural feature of being polymers composed of monosaccharides. However, they differ in several ways. Both cellulose and glycogen are polymers of D-glucose, not D-fructose or amylose. The key difference lies in the type of glycosidic linkages that connect the glucose units. Cellulose is connected by β-1,4-glycosidic linkages, forming a linear and highly ordered structure, which allows extensive hydrogen bonding and makes cellulose a rigid component of plant cell walls. On the other hand, glycogen is connected by α-1,4-glycosidic linkages and also has branches with α-1,6-glycosidic linkages, making it a highly branched polymer suitable for rapid energy release in animals.