Cellulose

Definition

Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate and a key structural component of plant cell walls. It is composed of linear chains of glucose molecules linked by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth.
2. Humans cannot digest cellulose because they lack the enzyme cellulase.
3. Cellulose provides rigidity and strength to plant cell walls.
4. It plays a crucial role in the dietary fiber content of food, aiding in digestion.
5. Microorganisms like bacteria in the guts of herbivores can break down cellulose.

Review Questions

• What type of glycosidic bond links glucose molecules in cellulose?
• Why can't humans digest cellulose?
• How does cellulose contribute to the structural integrity of plants?

Related terms

Starch: A storage polysaccharide in plants consisting of glucose monomers joined by α-1,4-glycosidic bonds.

Glycogen:

A storage form of glucose in animals, highly branched and found primarily in liver and muscle tissues.

Chitin: A structural polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and cell walls of fungi, composed of N-acetylglucosamine units.