Cellulose

Definition

Cellulose is a polysaccharide consisting of linear chains of glucose molecules, and it is the primary structural component of plant cell walls. It provides rigidity and strength to the cell walls, aiding in maintaining cell shape.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cellulose is a beta-glucan, meaning it contains beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds between glucose units.
2. Eukaryotic cells, particularly those in plants and some algae, produce cellulose as a major component of their cell walls.
3. Most animals cannot digest cellulose due to the lack of cellulase enzymes required to break down its beta linkages.
4. Cellulose can be broken down by certain bacteria and fungi that produce cellulase enzymes.
5. In microbial biochemistry, cellulose plays a significant role in the carbon cycle as its decomposition recycles carbon back into the ecosystem.

Review Questions

• What type of glycosidic bonds are found in cellulose?
• Why can't most animals digest cellulose?
• Which types of organisms can break down cellulose and through what mechanism?

Related terms

Polysaccharide: A carbohydrate polymer consisting of many monosaccharides linked together.

Glycosidic Bond:

A type of covalent bond that joins a carbohydrate molecule to another group.

Cellulase: An enzyme capable of breaking down cellulose into simpler sugars.