Question

. How is glucose stored for fuel in animals?  Draw/describe the structure of the molecule(s). (5 pts)

b. How is glucose stored for fuel in plants? Draw/describe the structure of the molecule(s). (5 pts)

Answer 1

a.

In animals, glucose is stored in the form of a polymer known as glycogen. The glucogen is a polymerized form of D-glucopyranose. The main chain of glycogen is such that the glucose moieties are linked through alpha(1 -> 4) glycosidic linkages where the 1st carbon of one glucose is linked to the 4th carbon of another glucose. There are extensive branchings at several points on the main chain where there is an alpha (1--->6) linkage where the 1st carbon of one glucose is linked to the 6th carbon of another glucose.

b.

In plants, glucose is stored in the form of strach. Starch consists of two components: amylose and amylopectin. Amylose consists of linear unbranched chains of alpha(1--->4) linked glucose moieties. The structure of amylopectin is similar to that of glycogen. It has the main chain with alpha(1--->4) linkages as well as the alpha(1--->6) branchings. However, the extent of branching in amylopectin is lower than that of glycogen.

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