What is the difference in structure between starch and cellulose? What are the results of this difference?

At the heart of both starch and cellulose are glycosidic bonds, which are a type of covalent bond that joins a carbohydrate molecule to another group, which can also be a carbohydrate. These bonds form between particular carbon atoms on the glucose molecules. In starch, glucose units are connected predominantly by alpha-1,4 glycosidic bonds. This formation allows enzymes in the human digestive system to recognize and cleave these bonds, making starch a digestible source of energy.

In contrast, cellulose is characterized by beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds. These bonds create a more rigid and stable structure due to the alternating orientation of the glucose units, which contributes to the strength and rigidity of plant cell walls. This structural configuration is indigestible to humans as we lack the necessary enzymes to break these bonds apart.

Glucose monomers are the fundamental building blocks of both starch and cellulose. These glucose units are ring-shaped molecules that, through the process of photosynthesis, plants create from carbon dioxide and water. The way these monomers link together crucially determines the properties of the polysaccharide.

Starch is formed when glucose monomers join in a way that is accessible to human digestive enzymes, creating a source of energy that is readily available to our bodies. Cellulose, on the other hand, has a structural function, providing plants with a robust framework. Despite both starch and cellulose consisting of the same type of glucose monomer, their distinct bond orientations lead to their divergent functions in nature and digestibility by humans.

Polysaccharides are long chains of carbohydrate molecules and vary in digestibility depending on their molecular structure. Starch, with its alpha-1,4 and alpha-1,6 glycosidic bonds, is a polysaccharide that we can digest efficiently. This is because the enzymes in our digestive system, such as amylase, can easily hydrolyze these alpha linkages.

On the other hand, the beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds found in cellulose form a linear, fibrous structure that resists digestion by human enzymes. This resistance is beneficial for dietary fiber, which aids in digestion by providing bulk to our diet. However, it also means cellulose provides no direct nutritional value in terms of energy. Some animals, like ruminants and termites, can digest cellulose because of symbiotic relationships with microbes in their digestive systems that produce cellulase, an enzyme capable of breaking down beta linkages.