polisacharyd

Polisacharyd refers to a carbohydrate polymer composed of long chains of monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds. In Turkish and in many scientific contexts, polisacharyd is used to denote polysaccharide. These macromolecules vary in composition, linkage types (alpha or beta) and degree of polymerization, which influence properties such as solubility and digestibility. They are essential components of plants, animals, and microorganisms and serve as energy stores or structural materials.

Classification includes homopolysaccharides, with only one type of monosaccharide (for example starch and glycogen, made from glucose; cellulose and chitin with glucose-derived units), and heteropolysaccharides, containing two or more monosaccharide types (such as pectin, agar, peptidoglycan). Structural polysaccharides like cellulose and chitin provide rigidity, while storage polysaccharides such as starch in plants and glycogen in animals serve as energy reserves. The properties of polisacharyds are influenced by branching, molecular weight, and chemical modification.

Biological roles and applications: digestibility depends on enzymes such as amylases for starch and glycogen, whereas cellulose requires specific microbes for breakdown. Industrial uses include food thickening and gelling agents (agar, carrageenan, pectin), dietary fiber, and biotechnological products such as bacterial exopolysaccharides (dextran, xanthan). In medicine and materials science, polisacharyds are used in drug delivery, hydrogels, and tissue engineering. They are typically non-toxic and abundant in nature, reflecting their diverse roles across organisms and ecosystems.