Cellulose is another long polymer of glucose. Plant cells make their cell walls out of cellulose. In fact, 100 billion tons of cellulose is made every year on earth. Cellulose is indigestible in most animals, including us. Ever eat a cardboard box? You get the picture. We simply lack cellulase, the enzyme that can break it down. Some bacteria, some single-celled protists, and fungi have the enzyme. Animals that feed on cellulose harbor these microbes that help them digest it. Even though, we cannot break down this molecule, we do need cellulose in our diet. We call it “fiber”. Cellulose stimulates the colon to produce regular bowel movements and helps make the stools large and soft. A diet rich in fiber can prevent a painful intestinal disorder called diverticulosis. Hard impacted stools can sometimes cause the walls of the colon to form blind outpockets called diverticula which can periodically inflame. So what makes cellulose different from starch? Isn’t it made of glucose? Well it is but the glucose monomers are organized in an interesting fashion. The orientation of the glucose molecules alternates. So if the first one is right side up, the next one is upside down and then the next is right side up and the next one is upside down. Apparently this is a tricky arrangement for an enzyme to break.
