Name 2 complex molecules in plants that glucose is linked to create

1 answer

In plants, glucose can be linked to form several complex molecules. Two notable examples are:

  1. Starch: This is a polysaccharide that serves as a storage form of glucose in plants. It is composed of long chains of glucose units linked together mainly by α(1→4) glycosidic bonds, with some branches formed by α(1→6) bonds.

  2. Cellulose: This is another polysaccharide that serves as a structural component of plant cell walls. Cellulose is made up of long chains of glucose molecules linked by β(1→4) glycosidic bonds, forming rigid fibers that contribute to the strength and structural integrity of the plant.

Both of these complex molecules illustrate how plants utilize glucose in different ways to meet their energy storage and structural needs.