Starch and cellulose are two polysaccharides formed from glucose monomers with glycosidic linkages. Most animals can use starch for energy, but cannot digest cellulose. Which of the following statements best describes how the molecular structure of cellulose inhibits its digestion by animals? A) The location of the disulfide bridges in cellulose create a linear structure where enzymes cannot catalyze decomposition.
B) The modified glucose units of cellulose have a nitrogen-containing functional group that inhibits decomposition.
C) Cellulose is made of glucose monomers in α form that animal enzymes cannot hydrolyze.
D) Cellulose is made of glucose monomers with β linkages that animal enzymes cannot hydrolyze.

D) Cellulose is made of glucose monomers with β linkages that animal enzymes cannot hydrolyze.

Explanation:

Cellulose is a linear carbohydrate polymer containing series of chains of monomeric units called Glucose, which are linked together by β-1,4- glycosidic linkages. As stated in the question, cellulose cannot be broken down by most animals unlike its other carbohydrate counterpart, Starch.

The structure of cellulose is responsible for the inability to hydrolyse it; most animals lack the enzymes that can break down the β linkages that holds its monomers together.

1. amino acid refers to the fundamental building block of proteins, comprising of an amino group and a carboxyl group.

2. catalyst refers to any substance, which increases the rate of chemical reaction without being used up in the reaction.

3. a complex molecule containing he genetic code is dna or deoxyribonucleic acid.

4. an enzyme refers to a molecule of protein, which is unique in accelerating up a particular chemical reaction in the biological systems.

5. nucleic acid refers to an sequence of sugars, phosphates, and nitrogenous bases, for example, dna and rna.

6. a protein refers to a large, composite organic molecule comprising of a huge number of amino acids associated together with the of peptide bonds.

7. rna refers to a nucleic acid that takes part in the production of proteins.

8. substrate refers to a compound, which takes part in a chemical reaction, and is chemically modified by the reaction.