tärkkelyksiin

Tärkkelyksiin is a Finnish term referring to starches. Starches are carbohydrates that occur widely in plants, forming the main storage form of glucose. They are polysaccharides composed of many monosaccharide units, primarily glucose, linked together. In plants, starch is stored in granules within specialized organelles called plastids. These granules are found in various parts of the plant, including roots, tubers, seeds, and fruits.

There are two main types of starch molecules: amylose and amylopectin. Amylose is a linear polymer of glucose units linked by alpha-1,4 glycosidic bonds. Amylopectin, on the other hand, is a branched polymer. It has alpha-1,4 glycosidic bonds in its linear chains and alpha-1,6 glycosidic bonds at the branching points. The ratio of amylose to amylopectin varies depending on the plant source, influencing the physical properties of the starch, such as its solubility and gelatinization temperature.

Starches are a vital source of energy for humans and animals. In the digestive system, starches are broken down into glucose through enzymatic hydrolysis. This glucose is then absorbed into the bloodstream and used for cellular respiration to produce energy. Industrially, starches have numerous applications. They are used as thickening agents, stabilizers, and binders in the food industry. They are also utilized in the production of paper, textiles, and adhesives, as well as in the pharmaceutical industry for drug delivery and as tablet excipients. Different types of starches, such as corn starch, potato starch, and tapioca starch, are chosen based on their specific functional properties for various applications.