Chapter 16, Problem 32CQ

Summary Introduction

To explain: The reason behind two substrate-binding sites would promote efficient cellulose synthesis.

Concept introduction: The starch contains both amylose and amylopectin. Amylopectin is a branched polymer of α-D-glucose with $\text{α (1}\to 4\text{)-glycosidic}$ linkages with a branching at $\text{α (1}\to 6\text{)}$ points that occurs at an interval of approximately 25 to 30 α-D-glucose residues. Whereas, amylase is a linear unbranched polymer in a repeating sequence of $\text{α (1}\to 4\text{)-glycosidic}$. Cellulose is a linear, unbranched homopolysaccharide of D-glucose units joined together by $\text{β (1}\to 4\text{)-glycosidic}$ linkages.