2. Label the following monosaccharides and disaccharide as α or β anomers or having an α or β glycosidic bond.
Enzymes are biological molecules that catalyze very specific chemical reactions on other molecules. Enzymes are so specific that very subtle changes in the molecule they act on (substrate) can make a large difference in whether the reaction will go forward or not. For example, some enzymes will not catalyze a reaction if a single methyl group is added to the substrate. (See the Enzymes module for more information about enzymes.) Starch is broken down by α-amylase and α-dextrinase, while glycogen is broken down by phosphorylase. Animals have all three enzymes.
3. Why do you think animals can't break down cellulose, which is also composed of glucose units linked by glycosidic bonds?
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