MasteryExams
General Science • BiologyMedium

Which of the following biomolecules serves as the primary structural component of fungal cell walls and the exoskeleton of arthropods such as insects and crustaceans?

A. Chitin✓ Correct Answer
B. Cellulose
C. Peptidoglycan
D. Glycogen

💡 Solution & Explanation

Chitin is a tough, nitrogenous polysaccharide composed of N-acetylglucosamine units linked by beta-glycosidic bonds, serving as the principal structural material in fungal cell walls and arthropod exoskeletons. Cellulose is found in plant cell walls, peptidoglycan forms bacterial cell walls, and glycogen acts as energy storage in animals. Chitin provides exceptional mechanical strength and protective rigidity.

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