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Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the structural difference between amylose and glycogen?
A
Amylose is a linear polymer of glucose with α(1→4) linkages, while glycogen is a highly branched polymer with both α(1→4) and α(1→6) linkages.
B
Both amylose and glycogen are linear polymers of glucose with only α(1→4) linkages.
C
Glycogen is a linear polymer of fructose, while amylose is a branched polymer of glucose.
D
Amylose contains α(1→6) branches every 8–12 glucose units, while glycogen is completely unbranched.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the structural composition of amylose. Amylose is a polysaccharide composed of glucose units linked together by α(1→4) glycosidic bonds, forming a linear structure.
Step 2: Next, examine the structural composition of glycogen. Glycogen is also a polysaccharide made of glucose units, but it has a highly branched structure. The branching occurs due to α(1→6) glycosidic bonds, in addition to the α(1→4) linkages in the linear regions.
Step 3: Compare the branching patterns of amylose and glycogen. Amylose is linear and does not contain α(1→6) branches, whereas glycogen has branches approximately every 8–12 glucose units.
Step 4: Eliminate incorrect options based on the structural differences. For example, glycogen is not a polymer of fructose, and amylose does not contain α(1→6) branches.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct description is: Amylose is a linear polymer of glucose with α(1→4) linkages, while glycogen is a highly branched polymer with both α(1→4) and α(1→6) linkages.