What is the function of starch?

What is the function of starch?

• A. Provides structure to plant cell walls
• B. Catalyzes reactions
• C. Provides energy for animals
• D. Energy storage in plants

Answer: (D)

Starch stores energy in plants. It’s a polysaccharide made of glucose units linked mainly by alpha-1,4 bonds (with some branching) that is stored in plant plastids as granules for later use. When the plant needs energy, enzymes break starch down into glucose to fuel metabolism. This is different from cellulose, which provides structural support in plant cell walls, and from the idea of enzymes catalyzing reactions. Animals get energy from starch by digesting it to glucose, but the plant-associated role of starch is specifically long-term energy storage, while animals store their energy as glycogen.

Starch stores energy in plants. It’s a polysaccharide made of glucose units linked mainly by alpha-1,4 bonds (with some branching) that is stored in plant plastids as granules for later use. When the plant needs energy, enzymes break starch down into glucose to fuel metabolism. This is different from cellulose, which provides structural support in plant cell walls, and from the idea of enzymes catalyzing reactions. Animals get energy from starch by digesting it to glucose, but the plant-associated role of starch is specifically long-term energy storage, while animals store their energy as glycogen.