Polysaccharides Overview

Flashcards on polysaccharides covering their structure, function, monomers, and bonding.

What type of reactions create polysaccharides?

Polysaccharides are created by condensation reactions.

What are the three main polysaccharides to know?

Starch, cellulose, and glycogen.

Where is starch found and what is its function?

Starch is found in plants and is a store of glucose.

What is cellulose's function in plants?

Cellulose provides structural strength.

Where is glycogen found and what is its role?

Glycogen is found in animals and serves as a store of glucose.

What type of glucose is starch made from?

Starch is made from alpha glucose.

What type of glucose is cellulose made from?

Cellulose is made from beta glucose.

What is the bond type that forms starch?

Starch forms glycosidic bonds.

What are the two types of structures in starch?

Amylose and amylopectin.

What structure does amylose take?

Amylose forms an unbranched helix.

How is amylopectin structured?

Amylopectin is branched and formed by both one to four and one to six glycosidic bonds.

What type of bonds does glycogen have?

Glycogen has both one to four and one to six glycosidic bonds.

How does glycogen compare to amylopectin?

Glycogen is more highly branched than amylopectin.

What is the role of hydrogen bonds in cellulose?

Hydrogen bonds provide structural strength to cell walls.

What does the structure of cellulose consist of?

Cellulose consists of long straight chains of beta glucose.

What structure do cellulose chains form?

Cellulose chains form a structure called a fibril.

How does the structure of starch benefit its function?

Starch's helix shape allows compact storage of glucose.

What advantage does amylopectin's branching provide?

Amylopectin's branches provide multiple exposed ends for rapid hydrolysis by enzymes.

Why is it beneficial for polysaccharides to be insoluble in water?

Insolubility ensures they do not affect water potential and osmosis.

What is the structural difference between amylose and glycogen?

Glycogen has more branches due to additional one to six bonds.

What prevents the cell wall from bursting in plant cells?

Cellulose provides structural strength when cells become turgid.

Which polysaccharide is a storage molecule in animals?

Glycogen is the storage molecule in animals.

What do the long straight chains of cellulose do?

They line up parallel and are held together by hydrogen bonds.

How do the structural arrangements of starch and cellulose differ?

Starch has a helical structure whereas cellulose has straight chains.

What two functions does starch serve in plants?

Starch serves as an energy store and provides a compact form of glucose.

How does the compact structure of starch help plants?

It allows high glucose storage in small spaces.

What is the effect of glucose storage on animal movement?

Animals need rapid access to glucose for energy during movement.

What type of bonds link glucose monomers in cellulose?

Cellulose has one to four glycosidic bonds linking beta glucose monomers.

Why do cellulose chains bond together?

To form fibrils providing strength to the plant cell wall.

What are the main differences between amylopectin and glycogen?

Glycogen is more highly branched than amylopectin.

Why is cellulose considered structurally distinct from starch and glycogen?

Cellulose is made from beta glucose, whereas starch and glycogen are made from alpha glucose.

How is amylose structured?

Amylose is an unbranched polymer of alpha glucose.

What is significant about the bonding in cellulose?

The bonding creates strong fibers due to numerous hydrogen bonds.

How do polysaccharides contribute to the water potential in cells?

Their insolubility prevents changes in water potential and osmosis.

How can polysaccharides be rapidly utilized in the body?

Branches in starch and glycogen allow for quick enzyme action to release glucose.

What role does cellulose play in plant cell turgidity?

Cellulose prevents cell bursting when under pressure from water.

What kind of polymer is glycogen?

Glycogen is a highly branched polymer of alpha glucose.

What type of glycosidic bonds does amylopectin include?

Amylopectin includes one to four and one to six glycosidic bonds.

Why do glucose monomers form polysaccharides?

To create long chains that serve various functions in biology.

What did amylose's spiral structure allow for in plants?

It allowed for energy storage in a compact shape.

How do starch and glycogen compare in terms of branching?

Starch is less branched than glycogen.

What type of structure is formed by cellulose chains?

Cellulose forms a fibril structure.

Why can starch be efficiently broken down to glucose?

Its structure allows enzymes to access multiple ends for hydrolysis.

What are the potential consequences of a soluble polysaccharide in living cells?

It could affect the water potential and lead to cell damage.