Amylopectin has what type of linkage?

• A. alpha 1-4 only
• B. alpha 1-4 and 1-6
• C. beta 1-4 and 1-6
• D. beta 1-2 and 1-4

Answer: (B)

Amylopectin’s structure is built from glucose units linked mostly by alpha-1,4 bonds along the main chains, with branching points created by alpha-1,6 bonds. This combination gives a highly branched, tree-like molecule. The branching points occur at alpha-1,6 linkages, while the linear portions use alpha-1,4 linkages. That’s why the correct description is alpha-1,4 and alpha-1,6. The alpha-1,4 linkage forms the long, unbranched sections, and the alpha-1,6 linkage creates the branches that give amylopectin its branched architecture. By contrast, beta-1,4 linkages occur in cellulose, not starch, so they aren’t part of amylopectin.