Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Polysaccharides
- Starch
- The main energy storage material in plants
- Cells get energy from glucose
- Plants store excess glucose as starch
- When a plant needs more glucose for energy
it breaks down starch to release the glucose
- Starch is a mixture of two polysaccharides of alpha-glucose
- Amylose
- A long, unbranched chain of
alpha-glucose
- The angles of the glycosidic bonds give it a coiled structure
- This makes it compact
- Good for storage because you can fit more into a small space
- Amylopectin
- A long, branched chain of alpha glucose
- Its side branches allow enzymes that break down
the molecule to get at the glycosidic bonds easily
- This means glucose can be released quickly
- Starch is insoluble in water, so it doesn't cause water to enter the cell by osmosis
- Will cause them to swell
- This makes it good for storage
- Glycogen
- The main energy storage material in animals
- Animals cells get energy from glucose
- Animals store excess glucose as glycogen
- A polysaccharide of
alpha-glucose
- Structure is similar to
amylopectin
- Glycogen has more side branches
- Stored glucose can be released quickly
- Important for energy release in animals
- Very compact molecule
- Good for storage
- Cellulose
- The major component of cell walls in plants
- Long, unbranched chains of
beta-glucose
- The bonds between sugars are straight
- Cellulose chains are straight
- Cellulose chains linked together by hydrogen bonds to form strong fibres called microfibrils
- Strong fibres mean cellulose provides structural support for cells