Polysaccharides Flashcards
What are examples of polysaccharides?
Glycogen, starch, cellulose
How are glycogen and starch made?
They’re both formed by the condensation of alpha glucose
How is cellulose formed?
The condensation of beta glucose
What is the main energy storage molecule in animals?
Glycogen
How is glycogen formed?
From many molecules of alpha glucose joined together by 1, 4 and 1, 6 glycosidic bonds
What does glycogen have which means energy can be released quickly?
•It has many branches which means energy can be released quicker
•It is relatively large but compact meaning more energy can be stored
What is the main energy store in plants?
Starch
What is starch a mixture of?
Amylose and amylopectin
What structure does amylose have?
It is an unbranched chain of glucose molecules joined by 1,4 glycosidic bonds
What is the structure of amylopectin?
Branched chain of glucose molecules joined by 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds
What does the structure of amylose result in?
It’s coiled and therefore is very compact molecule meaning it can store a lot of energy
What does the structure of amylopectin result in?
The presence of side branches means enzymes rapidly digest them therefore energy is released quickly
What are plant cell walls composed of?
Cellulose
What is the structure of cellulose?
Chain of beta glucose joined by glycosidic bonds
What are microfibrils?
They’re strong threads which are made of long cellulose chains joined together by hydrogen bonds
