Polysaccharide

/ˌpɒliˈsækəraɪd/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A complex carbohydrate consisting of long chains of monosaccharide units linked together by glycosidic bonds.

Starch and cellulose are types of polysaccharides that play important roles in plants.

A carbohydrate that can be broken down into two or more monosaccharide molecules.

Glycogen is a polysaccharide that serves as a form of energy storage in animals.

Polysaccharides can be used as food sources for various organisms, aiding in energy metabolism.

Many fungi and bacteria are capable of digesting polysaccharides through enzymatic breakdown.

Some polysaccharides function as structural components in living organisms.

Chitin, a polysaccharide, is an essential component of the exoskeletons of arthropods.

From the Greek polys meaning 'many' and saccharon meaning 'sugar'.

starch

A polysaccharide that serves as a major carbohydrate storage form in plants.

cellulose

A polysaccharide that is a key component of plant cell walls.

glycogen

A polysaccharide that serves as an energy reserve in animals.

monosaccharide

The simplest form of carbohydrate, consisting of a single sugar molecule.

oligosaccharide

A carbohydrate made up of a small number of monosaccharides, typically 2-10.

Sugar chains

Polysaccharides are often referred to as 'sugar chains' in biochemistry.