Glycogen, the primary storage polysaccharide in animals, exhibits a highly branched structure. Which of the following best explains the significance of this branching for its function?
Branching increases the structural rigidity of glycogen, enabling it to form strong fibers.
Branching decreases the osmotic pressure exerted by glycogen within cells.
Branching facilitates the transport of glycogen across cell membranes.
Branching allows for rapid hydrolysis by providing multiple sites for enzyme action, crucial for quick energy release.
Related Questions
Inulin, a storage polysaccharide found in some plants, differs from starch in several key aspects. Which of the following statements accurately describes a major difference between inulin and starch?
Inulin is a branched polymer, while starch is strictly linear.
Inulin is primarily found in animals, while starch is found in plants.
Inulin forms a helical structure, while starch forms a sheet-like structure.
Inulin is composed of fructose units linked by β(2→1) glycosidic bonds, while starch primarily consists of glucose units linked by α(1→4) and α(1→6) bonds.
Chitin, a structural polysaccharide found in the exoskeleton of arthropods, differs significantly from cellulose in terms of its monomeric unit. This difference primarily stems from:
The presence of an N-acetyl group at C-2 of the monomer
The type of glycosidic linkage between monomers
The degree of polymerization (chain length)
The three-dimensional arrangement of the polymer chains
Select the correct which represents the homopolysaccharides made up of glucose monomers
Sucrose, lactose, maltose
Chitin, glycogen, starch
Starch, inulin, peptidoglycan
Starch, glycogen, cellulose
