The enzyme amylase can break glycosidic linkages between glucose monomers only if the monomers are in the αform. Which of the following could amylase break down?a. glycogen, starch, and amylopectinb. glycogen and cellulosec. cellulose and chitind. starch, chitin, and cellulose

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the structure of glucose monomers in each polysaccharide.
2. Understand that amylase can only break down polysaccharides with α-glycosidic linkages.
3. Recognize that glycogen, starch, and amylopectin have α-glycosidic linkages.
4. Note that cellulose and chitin have β-glycosidic linkages, which amylase cannot break.
5. Determine which options contain only polysaccharides with α-glycosidic linkages.

Key Concepts

Glycosidic Linkages

Glycosidic linkages are covalent bonds that connect monosaccharides to form polysaccharides. They can be classified as α or β based on the orientation of the hydroxyl group on the first carbon of the glucose monomer. Amylase specifically targets α-glycosidic linkages, which are found in starch and glycogen, allowing it to break these down into simpler sugars.

Types of Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides are large carbohydrate molecules composed of long chains of monosaccharide units. Common examples include starch, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin. Starch and glycogen contain α-glycosidic linkages, making them substrates for amylase, while cellulose and chitin contain β-glycosidic linkages, which amylase cannot break down.

Enzyme Specificity

Enzyme specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to select and catalyze a particular substrate among many possible molecules. Amylase is specific for α-glycosidic linkages, meaning it will only act on polysaccharides like starch and glycogen, but not on those with β-glycosidic linkages, such as cellulose and chitin. This specificity is crucial for understanding which substrates can be broken down by amylase.