Polysaccharides Review

Comprehensive practice questions covering the properties, classification, and specific examples of polysaccharides based on lecture notes.

What are the general characteristics and composition of polysaccharides?

They are macromolecules and biopolymers composed of a few hundred to a few thousand monosaccharide subunits that are non-crystalline, water-insoluble, and not considered as sugars.

How are polysaccharides categorized based on their function, and what are the examples for each?

They are categorized as Storage (Starch, Glycogen) and Structural (Cellulose, Hemicellulose, Pectin).

Which polysaccharides are classified as linear forms based on their architecture?

Cellulose and Amylose.

Which polysaccharides are classified as branched forms based on their architecture?

Glycogen, Amylopectin, and Hemicellulose.

What is the monomer and storage location of Starch?

The monomer is Glucose and it is stored in plants.

What is the monomer and storage location of Glycogen?

The monomer is Glucose and it is stored in animals and fungi.

What is the monomer of Cellulose and what is its primary structural role?

The monomer is Glucose and it is a component of the Cell wall.

What is the monomer of Inuline and where is it stored?

The monomer is Fructose and it is stored in tubers of Dhalia.

What is the monomer of Pectin and where is it found in plant cells?

The monomer is Galacturonic acid and it is a component of the Middle lamella of plant cell walls.

What is the monomer of Hemicellulose and what is its function?

The monomer is Pentose and it is a component of Plant cell walls.

What is Chitin and where is it typically located?

Chitin is a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide with the monomer Glucosamine; it is a component of fungal cell walls and the exoskeleton of Arthropods.