Any of a large class of long-chain sugars composed of monosaccharides. Because the chains may be unbranched or branched and the monosaccharides may be of one, two, or occasionally more kinds, polysaccharides can be categorized in various ways. Cellulose, starch, glycogen, and dextran are all polysaccharides of glucose, with different configurations. Pectins are composed of a galactose derivative, chitin of a glucose derivative. Connective tissues, joint fluid, and cartilage contain two-component polysaccharides, including heparin. See also oligosaccharide
A large carbohydrate molecule with a chainlike or branched structrure composed of many monosaccharides Functions in storage (ex starch, insulin, glycogen) or structre (ex cellulose, chitin )
any of a class of carbohydrates whose molecules contain chains of monosaccharide molecules
A carbohydrate containing a large number of monosaccharide units, each joined to the next by one or more glycoside bonds
Polysaccharides, such as starch, consist of numerous (up to several tenthousands) units of monosaccharides There are unbranched polysaccharides, such as the native starch amylosis, and branched ones, such as amylopektin, also a native starch The more branched polysaccharides are, the more complex they are