Question

How does the molecular structure differ between glycogen and cellulose? How does their structure contribute to their function?

Answer 1

Answer-

Structural difference between glycogen and cellulose are that –
Glycogen is short and highly branched while cellulose is long, straight, and unbranched chains.
The structure of glycogen includes alpha(1-4) and alpha(1-6) glycosidic bonds while cellulose has a beta(1-4) glucosidic bond for their glycogen residues.
The structure of cellulose gives the rigidity to the cells. Thus cellulose is highly present in the cell walls of plants. This rigid property allows plants to stand upright.

While the glycogen having alpha glucose monomers helps in the production of energy. The glycosidic bonds allow glucose molecules to be hydrolyzed for the process of respiration.