Importance of Polysaccharides

Importance of Polysaccharides

Importance of Polysaccharides

When many monosaccharide units are joined together by a glycosidic linkage then polysaccharides are formed. These are commonly found in nature. They also act as food storage or structural materials.

First, let us discuss starch from where we will move on to other polysaccharides such as Glycogen and Cellulose.

Starch:

What is Starch?

It is one of the most important dietary sources for human beings and is also one of the main storage polysaccharides of plants. We can find the high content of starch in cereals, roots and also in some other vegetables. It is a polymer of α-glucose and it mainly contains two components- Amylose and Amylopectin. Of these, Amylose is soluble in water and contains around 15-20% of starch. Chemically we can say that Amylose is a long unbranched chain with α-D+ glucose units which are around 200-1000 in number and are connected by C1-C4 glycosidic linkage. The starch content in Amylopectin is about 80-85%, but this is not soluble in water. It is a branched-chain polymer and is formed by C1-C4 linkage by C1-C6 glycosidic linkage the branching starts.

Uses Of Starch

• Bakery Products require starch for their elasticity, its examples would be cake and biscuit fillings.
• In industries, starch is used to increase the mechanical strength to resistance to friction and resist moisture penetration.
• Starch is used in detergents
• Confectionary energy for dextrose
• Brewing and alcoholic beverages are often derived from starch products.
• The production of dry sausages, salamis, brine-cured hams etc require the use of starch products.

Cellulose

What is Cellulose?

This is one of the most abundant organic substances that are present in the plant kingdom. It is one of the major constituents of plant cells. These are the polysaccharide which forms a straight-chain and is composed of only β -D-glucose units and are joined by the glycosidic linkage between the first carbon of the glucose unit and the fourth carbon of the next glucose unit.

Glycogen

What is Glycogen?

In an animal’s body, the carbohydrates are stored in the form of glycogen. This is also called animal starch as its structure is somewhat similar to amylopectin and it has many branches. It is present in the liver, muscles as well as in the brain. The enzymes break down the glycogen into glucose whenever the body needs it. We can also find glycogen in yeast and fungi. For any other information contact our BYJU’S mentors who are always there to help you.