Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates made up of many repeating units of simple sugars (monosaccharides) joined together by glycosidic bonds. They are one of the three main types of carbohydrates, along with monosaccharides and disaccharides.
Polysaccharides serve as energy storage molecules in plants and animals. Some examples of polysaccharides in plants include starch and cellulose, while glycogen is a polysaccharide found in animals. These molecules are composed of glucose molecules and are able to be broken down by enzymes to release energy when needed.
In addition to energy storage, polysaccharides also play structural roles in organisms. For example, cellulose forms the cell walls of plants, providing strength and support. Chitin, another type of polysaccharide, is found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and in the cell walls of fungi, providing structural integrity.
Polysaccharides can also have important functional roles in various industries. For example, xanthan gum, a polysaccharide produced by bacteria, is commonly used as a thickening agent in food and industrial applications. Another example is agar, a polysaccharide derived from seaweed, which is used in laboratories as a culture medium for growing microorganisms.
Overall, polysaccharides are diverse and versatile molecules with important biological and industrial functions.
Polysaccharides
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