Why can humans digest starch but not cellulose, even though both polymers consist of glucose?
- A
Starch lacks glycosidic bonds altogether
- Bcheck_circle
Humans lack enzymes that hydrolyze beta 1-4 linkages of cellulose
- C
Starch is a lipid; cellulose is a carbohydrate
- D
Cellulose is made of fructose, not glucose
Explanation
Human amylase recognizes alpha 1-4 linkages in starch. The beta 1-4 linkages in cellulose require cellulase, an enzyme humans do not produce.