Polymers: Starch, Glycogen and Starch

Where is starch found?

In many parts of the plant found as small grains

What does starch do for humans with diet?

It is vital as it is the major energy source for most.

What type of glucose monosaccharides make up starch?

Alpha glucose

Within starch, are chains branched or not?

Both

Within starch, what will un branched chains do?

They will wound into a tight coil that makes the molecule very compact.

How are the alpha glucose monomers arranged?

Helix arrangement

What is the main role of starch?

energy storage

Does starch have a useful structure?

Yes

Why does starch have a useful structure for water potential?

It is insoluble -> doesn't effect water potential -> so water isn't drawn into the cell via osmosis

How is the structure of starch useful for not having diffusion?

It is large and insoluble

How does the structure of starch being compact happen to be useful?

A lot can be stored in a small space

What happens to starch when hydrolysed?

It forms alpha glucose

alpha glucose is easily transported and used in respiration

With starch, what happens to a branched form?

It has many ends due to it being branched

each can be acted on by enzymes simultaneously

so glucose monomers are released very rapidly

Is starch in animal or plant cells?

only plant cells

never animal as glycogen serves the same role for humans

Where is glycogen found?

Animal and bacteria cells

What is the structure of glycogen like?

It is similar to starch

Shorter chains

More highly branched

How is glycogen stored?

Small granules

Mainly muscles and liver

How many carbohydrates are stored in glycogen?

Relatively small amount

Fat is the main storage molecules for animals

How does glycogen being insoluble help the structure for storage?

doesn't draw water into cells via osmosis

doesn't diffuse out of cells

How does glycogen being compact help the structure for storage?

a lot of it can be stored in a small space

How does it being more branched than starch help the structure for storage?

because it is more branched

it has more ends

that can be acted on simultaneously by enzymes

therefore more rapidly broken down to form glucose monomers

that are used in respiration

this is vital to animals as they have a higher metabolic rate

therefore they have a higher respiratory rate than plants as they are more active

How does cellulose differ to starch and glycogen with the glucose monomer?

Beta glucose

How does the type of glucose monomer change the shape of the polymer?

Straight unbranched chains

that run parallel to each other

allowing hydrogen bonds to form links between adjacent chains

How do the hydrogen bonds strengthen cellulose?

individual hydrogen bonds are weak

the sheer number of them adds strength