Importance and Functions of Polysaccharides Archives

POLYSACCHARIDES If many monosaccharides are joined together through condensation, a polysaccharide is formed Polysaccharides may consist of hundreds or even thousands of monosaccharide units Examples of polysaccharides: Starch - storage material in plants Glycogen is a storage carbohydrate in animals like starch, but has longer chains Isulin - a storage carbohydrate in some plants e.g. Dahlia Cellulose - structural carbohydrate in plants Chitin - forms exoskeleton in arthropods Importance and Functions of Polysaccharides They are storage carbohydrates - starch in plants glycogen in animals They are hydrolysed to their contituent monosaccharide units and used for respiration They form structural material e.g. cellulose makes cell walls Cellulose has wide commercial uses e.g. Fibre in cloth industry Cellulose is used to make paper Carbohydrates combine with other molecules to form important structural compounds in living organisms Examples are: Pectins: Combine with calcium ions to form calcium pectate Chitin: Combine with (NH) group Makes the exoskeleton of arthropods, and walls of fungi. Also See: PROCESS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS NUTRITION IN PLANTS BIOLOGY PRACTICAL ACTIVE TRANSPORT WATER RELATIONS IN PLANT AND ANIMAL CELLS