Polysaccharides are the largest group of carbohydrates. They are complex carbohydrates made of many monosaccharide units joined together by glycosidic bonds. They function chiefly as food and energy stores (e.g., starch, glycogen) and as structural materials (e.g., cellulose, chitin).
Definition
Polysaccharides: Those carbohydrates which upon hydrolysis yield more than ten monosaccharide units are called polysaccharides.
In simple words: Polysaccharides are large carbohydrates made of many sugar units joined together.
Core Concept
Polysaccharides are the largest group of carbohydrates.
They are composed of more than 10 monosaccharide units.
They are generally insoluble in water.
They are tasteless.
They function chiefly as:
Food and energy stores – e.g., starch, glycogen
Structural materials – e.g., cellulose, chitin
Why are polysaccharides convenient storage molecules?
Large size makes them more or less insoluble in water, so they exert no osmotic or chemical influence in the cell.
They fold into compact shapes.
They are easily converted to sugars by hydrolysis when required.
Detailed Explanation
Types of Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are classified into two types based on their composition:
Type
Definition
Examples
Homopolysaccharides
Composed by the condensation of only one kind of monosaccharide
Starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin
Heteropolysaccharides
Composed by the condensation of different kinds of monosaccharides
Agar, pectin, peptidoglycan
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