Team:Exeter/Polysaccharides

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Polysaccharides are chains of monosaccharides (or sugars) linked by glycosidic bonds, ranging in length
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from just two joined sugars (a disaccharide) to many thousands. Variations in structure can also lead
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to linear or branched chains, or determine whether it is a storage polysaccharide or a structural
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polysaccharide.
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Storage polysaccharides
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Storage polysaccharides are used for, well, energy storage! Starches are a type of storage polysaccharide we are familiar with (in
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potatoes, rice...), and store energy until they are broken down by our digestive systems. Polysaccharides are ideal energy storage
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molecules as they are very long carbohydrates and therefore insoluble in water; they are also highly flexible so perfect for
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transportation and can be broken down very easily to release the stored energy. Being insoluble in water maintains a cell's
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equilibrium as no chemical or osmotic reaction is required by the cell.
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Glycogen is another, and is found in almost all animal cells, principally the liver and muscles. When the body has recieved no food,
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the enrgy stored in Glycogen is released in the form of glucose.
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Structural polysaccharides
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Revision as of 12:16, 31 July 2012

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Polysaccharides are chains of monosaccharides (or sugars) linked by glycosidic bonds, ranging in length from just two joined sugars (a disaccharide) to many thousands. Variations in structure can also lead to linear or branched chains, or determine whether it is a storage polysaccharide or a structural polysaccharide.

Storage polysaccharides

Storage polysaccharides are used for, well, energy storage! Starches are a type of storage polysaccharide we are familiar with (in potatoes, rice...), and store energy until they are broken down by our digestive systems. Polysaccharides are ideal energy storage molecules as they are very long carbohydrates and therefore insoluble in water; they are also highly flexible so perfect for transportation and can be broken down very easily to release the stored energy. Being insoluble in water maintains a cell's equilibrium as no chemical or osmotic reaction is required by the cell.
Glycogen is another, and is found in almost all animal cells, principally the liver and muscles. When the body has recieved no food, the enrgy stored in Glycogen is released in the form of glucose.

Structural polysaccharides

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