Question

In the muscles carbohydrates are stored in the form of
A) Glycolipid
B) Cellulose
C) Starch
D) Glycogen

Answer 1

Hint: It is a type of glucose storage, a simple sugar that is a starch component and an ingredient in many staple foods. This produces power to the body.

Complete answer:
- Most people, especially when it comes to what we eat, are concerned with carbohydrates, one type of macromolecule. Some people stick to "low-carb" diets in order to reduce weight. In comparison, before significant events competitors often "carb-load" to ensure that they have enough stamina to perform at a professional level.
- In fact, carbohydrates are an important part of our diet; all natural carbohydrate sources are grains, fruits, and vegetables. Carbohydrates supply the body with energy, especially glucose, an ingredient in many staple foods. In humans, animals, and plants, carbohydrates also have other major roles.

Now, let us find the solution from the options-
- Glycolipids are lipids bound by a glycosidic bond with a carbohydrate. Their function is to maintain the cohesion of the cell membrane and to promote the cellular recognition, which is important for the immune response and for the connections that enable cells to connect with each other to form tissues. Therefore, the option (A) is incorrect.

- The most prevalent natural biopolymer is cellulose. Plants' cell walls are often composed of cellulose; this provides the cell with structural support. In nature, wood and paper are mainly cellulosic. Cellulose consists of monomers of glucose which are connected by glycosidic bonds of β 1-4. Therefore, the option (B) is incorrect.

- Starch is a type of sugar contained in plants and is composed of a mixture of amylose and amylopectin (both glucose polymers). Plants are capable of synthesising glucose, and extra glucose is retained as starch in various plant parts, including roots and seeds. These starch serve as a food supply for humans and animals. Enzymes, such as salivary amylases, break down the starch that is ingested by humans into smaller molecules, like maltose and glucose. The glucose will then be consumed by the body cells. Therefore, the option (C) is incorrect.

- In humans and other vertebrates, glycogen is the storage medium of glucose and is composed of glucose monomers. Glycogen is equivalent to starch and is a strongly branched compound naturally contained in cells of the liver and muscle. Glycogen is broken down to produce glucose in a mechanism called glycogenolysis when blood glucose levels drop.

Thus, the correct answer is option (D) Glycogen.

Note: The storage sources of glucose in plants and animals, respectively, are starch and glycogen, examples of polysaccharides. An example of an unbranched polysaccharide is cellulose. Glucose storage, in the form of polymers such as glycogen starch, makes it somewhat less available for metabolism, but this stops it from escaping out of the cell or causing a high osmotic pressure that might cause the cell to absorb excessive water.