Which polysaccharide(s) can the enzyme alpha-amylase break?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A) glycogen<\/p>\n\n\n\n
B) starch <\/p>\n\n\n\n
C) cellulose <\/p>\n\n\n\n
D) both glycogen and cellulose <\/p>\n\n\n\n
E) both glycogen and starch<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The correct answer and explanation is:<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The correct answer is E) both glycogen and starch<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alpha-amylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of polysaccharides, specifically those made up of glucose units. It works by hydrolyzing the internal \u03b1-1,4-glycosidic bonds in polysaccharides. Both glycogen and starch are made up of glucose units linked by \u03b1-1,4-glycosidic bonds, making them substrates for alpha-amylase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Glycogen<\/strong> is a storage polysaccharide in animals, primarily found in the liver and muscles. It has a highly branched structure, consisting of glucose molecules connected by \u03b1-1,4-glycosidic bonds with \u03b1-1,6-glycosidic bonds at the branch points. Alpha-amylase can break down the linear \u03b1-1,4-glycosidic bonds in glycogen, releasing smaller chains of glucose called dextrins. The enzyme acts on the non-reducing ends of glycogen and progressively cleaves the glucose units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Starch<\/strong>, found in plants, is also composed of glucose molecules linked by \u03b1-1,4-glycosidic bonds. Starch exists mainly in two forms: amylose (a linear polymer) and amylopectin (a branched polymer). Alpha-amylase can break down both forms, although it acts more efficiently on amylopectin due to the branched structure that provides more accessible cleavage sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cellulose<\/strong>, however, is made up of \u03b2-1,4-glycosidic bonds, which are structurally different from the \u03b1-1,4-bonds in glycogen and starch. Alpha-amylase cannot break down cellulose because it lacks the ability to hydrolyze \u03b2-1,4-glycosidic bonds. Cellulose is a major structural component of plant cell walls, and its breakdown requires enzymes like cellulase, not alpha-amylase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus, alpha-amylase can only break down glycogen and starch, which have \u03b1-1,4-glycosidic bonds, and not cellulose, which has \u03b2-1,4-glycosidic bonds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Which polysaccharide(s) can the enzyme alpha-amylase break? A) glycogen B) starch C) cellulose D) both glycogen and cellulose E) both glycogen and starch The correct answer and explanation is: The correct answer is E) both glycogen and starch. Alpha-amylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of polysaccharides, specifically those made up of glucose units. 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