Which of the Following is True of Cellulose

Question

Which of the following is true of cellulose?
A) It is a polymer composed of enantiomers of glucose.
B) It is a storage polysaccharide for energy in plant cells.
C) It is digestible by bacteria in the human gut.
D) It is a major structural component of plant cell walls.
E) It is a polymer composed of enantiomers of glucose, it is a storage polysaccharide for energy in plant cells, it is digestible by bacteria in the human gut, and it is a major structural component of plant cell walls.

Accepted Answer

Cellulose is a major structural component of plant cell walls. It is composed of linear chains of glucose monomers, but it is not digestible by humans or most animals due to its beta-1,4 glycosidic bond angles, which does not allow for enzyme binding. Instead, it is broken down by bacterial cellulases in the gut of some organisms, such as cows and termites, which can then utilize the glucose as a source of energy.