What is the basic structural difference between starch and cellulose?
Starch consists of two components – amylase and amylopectin. Amylose is a long linear chain of α–D-(+)-glucose units joined by C1-C4glycosidic linkage (α -link).
Amylopectin is a branched-chain polymer of –D-glucose units, in which the chain is formed by C1-C4 glycosidic linkage and the branching occurs by C1-C6 glycosidic linkage.
On the other hand, cellulose is the main structural material of tree and other plants. Wood is 50% cellulose, while cotton wool is almost pure cellulose. It is linear chain natural polymers of β-D-glucose units joined by 1, 4-glycosidic linkage (natural linear polymers).
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