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Mechanism of reaction between starch and cellulose
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Starch and cellulose are both polymers of glucose, but they differ in their glycosidic linkages. Starch is composed of α-1,4-glycosidic linkages and α-1,6-glycosidic linkages, while cellulose is composed of β-1,4-glycosidic linkages. This difference in structure accounts for the different properties of starch and cellulose. Starch is easily digestible by humans because we have enzymes that can break down α-1,4-glycosidic linkages. Cellulose, on the other hand, is not digestible by humans because we lack enzymes that can break down β-1,4-glycosidic linkages. The mechanism of the reaction between starch and cellulose is therefore not a straightforward reaction but rather a complex process that involves the breakdown of these polymers into smaller units.
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