Cellulose is a polysaccharide produced by plants. It is a polymer of glucose similar to starch, also produced by plants. Why do these two polysaccharide structures, both made from glucose monomers, have one form indigestible by humans and one that humans can digest?
A. Cellulose cannot be digested because stomach acids cannot hydrolyze the hydroxyl groups tightly bonded together with the carbon backbone.
B. The glycoside linkages are the same within starch and cellulose, but the location of glycogen within the cell is insoluble due to the double membrane of the cell wall.

Question

Cellulose is a polysaccharide produced by plants. It is a polymer of glucose similar to starch, also produced by plants. Why do these two polysaccharide structures, both made from glucose monomers, have one form indigestible by humans and one that humans can digest?
A.	Cellulose cannot be digested because stomach acids cannot hydrolyze the hydroxyl groups tightly bonded together with the carbon backbone.
B.	The glycoside linkages are the same within starch and cellulose, but the location of glycogen within the cell is insoluble due to the double membrane of the cell wall.

anonymous · Answer

C.	The insoluble isomers of cellulose, which have quaternary folds,are much stronger than the isomers of starch.
D.	Starch can be hydrolyzed by humans because the hydroxyl group is oriented downward from the rest of the molecule.

anonymous · Answer

@Destinymasha do you have any idea on this one, I am honestly lost on this.