Homopolisacárido

Homopolisacárido is a type of carbohydrate composed of only one type of monosaccharide unit. These repeating units are linked together by glycosidic bonds to form long polymer chains. The specific type of monosaccharide and the way the glycosidic bonds are formed determine the properties and functions of the homopolysaccharide. Common examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose, all of which are made up of glucose units but have different structural arrangements.

Starch, found in plants, serves as an energy storage molecule. It consists of two main components: amylose, a linear chain of glucose units, and amylopectin, a branched chain. Glycogen, the animal equivalent of starch, is also a branched polysaccharide of glucose, primarily stored in the liver and muscles for quick energy release. Cellulose, another glucose polymer, is a major structural component of plant cell walls. Its linear chains and specific beta glycosidic linkages create a rigid and strong structure, making it indigestible for most animals. The differing arrangements of glucose units in these homopolysaccharides lead to distinct physical properties and biological roles.