Starch and cellulose are both polymers of glucose. If humans possess enzymes that can break down starch, why can they not use cellulose as a source of glucose as well

Respuesta :

Humans cannot use cellulose as a source of glucose because Our digestive systems lack the enzymes necessary to hydrolyze the cellulose's -glycosidic bonds.

  • Cellulose is a key component of plants' stiff cell walls. A linear polysaccharide polymer with lots of glucose monosaccharide units is cellulose.
  • Because of the beta acetal bond, it differs from starch. A significant disparity in digestibility in humans is caused by this particular variation in acetal linkages.
  • Because they lack the necessary enzymes to dissolve the beta acetal bonds, humans are unable to digest cellulose.
  • The intestinal tracts of creatures including cows, horses, sheep, goats, and termites contain symbiotic bacteria.
  • The enzymes required to breakdown cellulose in the GI tract are present in these symbiotic bacteria.
  • They possess the necessary enzymes for the breakdown or hydrolysis of the cellulose, whereas animals—not even termites—do not. No vertebrate can directly digest cellulose.
  • however humans do not posses any such enzymes to break down cellulosic walls hence humans cannot use cellulose as a source of glucose.

learn more about cellulose here: https://brainly.com/question/13551561

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